An arrest warrant has been issued for Davonte Pack, a close associate of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, in connection with an alleged 2022 altercation involving a teenager at Morant's Tennessee residence. The incident, which occurred during a pickup basketball game on July 26, led to Pack being charged with simple assault.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the warrant, stating that the charges relate to the altercation involving Pack, Morant, and a juvenile basketball player. This incident has been the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Court documents reveal deposition transcripts where Pack seemingly admitted the possibility of avoiding the conflict with the teenager, which reportedly stemmed from an aggressively checked ball. When questioned about his reason for allegedly punching the 17-year-old, Pack stated there wasn't one.
This week, attorneys for both sides presented their arguments before a Shelby County Circuit Court judge. Morant filed a countersuit against the teenager in April, and a judge is expected to rule soon on Morant's motion to dismiss the teenager's civil lawsuit against him.
Morant's legal team has maintained that he acted in self-defense during the incident. The initial civil lawsuit, filed last September by the teenager's family, accused both Morant and Pack of assault and battery. While prosecutors chose not to charge Morant, citing insufficient evidence, Pack was not mentioned in their decision.
This legal development comes as Morant faces a 25-game suspension from the NBA for displaying what appeared to be a firearm in an Instagram Live video. This is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the Grizzlies star.
