Davonte Pack, friend of Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant, took the stand in Shelby County Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 12, to tell his side of the story about a fight that now has him and Morant embroiled in a lawsuit.

The fight between Pack, Morant and Samford University basketball player Joshua Holloway, which occurred on July 26, 2022, ultimately could have been avoided, Pack said Tuesday.

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Holloway is suing both Pack and Morant, both of whom hit Holloway once during the fight, according to Pack.

The suit, originally filed by Holloway’s mother, was amended and filed again on his behalf in April after he turned 18. He was 17 at the time of the fight.

The fight, according to various testimonies given, started at the beginning of a pickup game of basketball at Morant’s parent’s house in Eads.

They have a full court in their backyard and regularly host games attended by friends of Morant’s as well as those of his sister Teniya Morant, who plays basketball for Mississippi Valley State University. 

She and Tee Morant, Ja Morant’s father, also testified Tuesday. 

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Tee Morant began testifying Monday but was cut short and finished Tuesday.

Donte White, Teniya Morant’s former AAU coach, who was there the day of the fight, also testified Tuesday. 

His testimony caused the courtroom to get heated at one point, with lawyers for Ja Morant making nearly ten objections over how Leslie Ballin, one of Holloway’s attorneys, questioned White about statements he gave when he was previously deposed.

Pack said Tuesday that he only saw part of what started the altercation between Ja Morant and Holloway.

Ja Morant testified Monday that Holloway first placed the ball at his feet, which he said he considered disrespectful.

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He said he kicked it back to Holloway and that Holloway rolled it back with his hand. 

Ja Morant said he then kicked it up to his hand and chest-passed it to Holloway.

He said that Holloway then threw it back with one hand and struck him in the face with it.

Pack said he saw Holloway throw it back but said he couldn’t remember in what way.

“I don’t know how it was passed. I just know it came back quick,” Pack said. 

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Teniya Morant, who testified prior to Pack taking the stand, described it Tuesday as a “baseball throw,” seeming to confirm claims from her brother that Holloway threw the pass one-handed.

Pack also said that he didn’t see Ja Morant get hit.

“I just seen him flinch,” he said.

Pack then largely backed testimony from others, including that Ja Morant asked Holloway, “What you on?” after he was hit and that Holloway pulled up his pants, which has been described as a sign that he wanted to fight.

After Holloway and Ja Morant met shoulder to shoulder — and Morant eventually hit him — Pack said Holloway got ready to retaliate.

“He retreated a little bit and came back ready to fight,” he said.

Pack got down from the witness stand to demonstrate for Keenan Carter, who represents him and Ja Morant, what Holloway did. It was the second time since Monday a mock version of the fight has played out.

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After he allegedly got ready to fight again, Pack hit him, he said.

He then pulled Ja Morant away toward half-court, telling him: “We don’t need to be doing this.”

On cross-examination, Leslie Ballin, who represents Holloway alongside Rebecca Adelman, tried to ask Pack if Ja Morant had other options besides hitting Holloway, which drew an objection from Carter.

Ballin’s approach was similar to one that Adelman took with Ja Morant yesterday.

“You could have said this isn’t what we do here. Leave my property,” she told him.

He agreed.

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She followed up: “But you didn’t do those things. You punched him.”

After the objection, Ballin took a less direct approach, asking if Pack would have used his words first had something similar happened to him that happened to Ja Morant.

“That’s exactly what Ja did,” Pack said.

Ballin countered, however, by saying that Ja Morant followed those words with fighting.

He also asked if he saw Ja Morant do anything other than hit Holloway, like push him.

“No,” he said.

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Ja Morant was granted an immunity hearing on Nov. 16 after claiming self-defense for his actions under Tennessee’s self-defense immunity statute, aka the “stand your ground” law.

Under the law, those who claim self-defense are entitled to an immunity hearing where they have to prove they acted in self-defense and, therefore, are immune from suit. 

That is now slated to play out at least through tomorrow, with another day available next week if needed.

Those suing them — in this case, Holloway — get to try to prove that they are still liable. 

But even if Ja Morant prevails and is declared immune from suit, the case against him may not be over.

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Shelby County Circuit Court Division 2 Judge Carol Chumney, who is presiding over the case, will make the final ruling. Because of that, Adelman has argued it would be unconstitutional to grant Ja Morant immunity. 

She has argued that it would strip Holloway of his right to a trial by jury, among other things.