Stephen Curry‘s electrifying 52-point performance wasn’t the only highlight in the Warriors vs. Grizzlies game. Sharing the attention for the wrong reasons was another Warriors player and Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant. While the Warriors took the win with a 134-125 victory, there were a few gestures made by Morant during the game that might land him in trouble again. Amid the unfolding controversy, a former 76ers’ icon brought and ex-Warrior into the discussion

During a timeout, Ja Morant directed a controversial finger-gun gesture toward the Warriors’ bench as both teams proceeded to their sidelines. The Warriors player Draymond Green, seemingly in shock, was spotted approaching an official afterward. It was after Jimmy Butler’s free throw. Buddy Hield was also seen making the same gesture from the bench, and officials issued technical fouls to both players.

Discussing the incident, now a major talking point on X, Lou Williams joked on Run It Back that players can try any other celebration gesture but not that one. He humorously remarked that two players in the league should never make this gesture.

“It’s two guys that just can’t do g*n celebrations no more. Ja Morant and Gilbert Arenas. Just stay away from it. But like I said, it’s not a big deal. I won’t blow it out of proportion. The funny thing is, looking at Draymond, he did want the tea. Like, bro, you can’t point g*ns at our bench. We want our free throw,” Williams said as he laughed. Given their histories, Williams suggested that both players should refrain from such gestures.

Morant had previously been suspended for showing a handg*n on social media. Back in March 2023, he was banned for eight games after displaying a firearm during an Instagram live stream. The second incident resulted in a 25-game suspension, cementing Morant’s troubled reputation.

The NBA does not have an explicit rule banning specific gestures like finger-gun motions. However, the league has a history of disciplining players for on-court actions deemed inappropriate or detrimental to its image. For instance, players have been fined for gestures such as throat-slashing or the “big balls” dance. ​

In the case of Ja Morant’s recent finger-gun gesture during a game against the Golden State Warriors, the NBA has initiated an investigation into the incident. While the league hasn’t issued a specific statement regarding this particular gesture, Morant’s prior incidents involving firearms may likely contribute to heightened scrutiny.

As for Arenas, while he might not mind Williams’ comments, he got involved in an odd situation. After a heated argument during a card game, Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pulled out g*ns in the Wizards locker room. Well, that was a long time ago. Cut to the present. Was he watching the game when Morant made the gesture? 

Why couldn’t Gilbert Arenas focus on his son’s major game?

Gilbert Arenas had every reason to be locked in at the Barclays Center. His son, Alijah, was stepping onto one of the biggest stages in high school basketball, making his McDonald’s All-American Game debut. A milestone few young players ever achieve. Arenas had missed much of Alijah’s practice time leading up to the event, making this night all the more significant. Yet, even as he watched from the stands, his focus was split.

Instead of being fully immersed in his son’s big moment, Arenas found himself glued to another spectacle – the brilliance of Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors superstar had just torched the court with a jaw-dropping 52-point explosion, an all-time great performance that had the entire basketball world buzzing. In a video posted on X, Arenas couldn’t help but express his awe:

“I’m here at [2025 McDonald’s All-American Game] watching, everybody’s here. Steph. Fifty-two. Fifty-two, eight and 10. Oh my God. Unreal. Ugh. I’m out here watching high school basketball; I know it’s the top 24, but they’re not Steph. They’re not out here being Steph – I mean, maybe combined. But 52 … congratulations, man.”

It was a striking moment. One of basketball’s most notorious scorers, distracted from his own son’s rise, caught up in the magic of a generational talent. To Arenas, Curry’s performance transcended his son’s big day.

Alijah, to his credit, held his own under the bright lights. The USC-bound guard put up 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, proving why he belonged among the nation’s best. But on a night when his father was meant to be fully dialed in, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Until Alijah reaches the NBA, Arenas might have to fight the urge to look elsewhere whenever Steph is putting on a show.