Instead of figuratively breaking the ankles of opponents with crafty moves on the basketball court, Ja Morant has literally broken the hearts of loyal fans, me included, with foolhardy moves off the court.

The latest one defies logic: Morant posting to his own Instagram account a dark video of himself holding a small pistol while partying inside a Colorado nightspot.

It happened mere hours after a reported players-only meeting in which veteran center Steven Adams implored his teammates to show more discipline and stay away from going out while on the road, according to The Athletic. How’s that for an all-star snub?

Danny Green comments on Grizzlies’ handling of Ja Morant situation

Now, Morant, the 23-year-old franchise superstar whom every long-suffering Grizzlies fan fell in love with on day one, is away from the team at the most crucial time of the regular season.

And we are heartbroken.

Admittedly, my sentiments are selfish. But I am not alone. I am among the horde of locals who pledged unwavering devotion to the Grizzlies by becoming season ticket holders in 2001 when the team first arrived in the Bluff City from Vancouver. I was so elated, a co-worker suggested I change my name to Otis Fanford.

Since then, we have remained loyal through good and bad 82-game seasons, good and bad coaches and good and bad players. We gloried in the Grit and Grind years that included a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2013.

We also suffered through several dismal 20-win seasons watching long-forgotten players such as Cesary Trabanski, Isaac Austin and Marko Jaric.

Grizzlies Podcast: Reacting to Ja Morant’s ‘suspension,’ Brandon Clarke’s injury

Then came May 14, 2019, and the fortunate tumble of ping-pong balls during the NBA draft lottery. The Grizzlies had just finished a disappointing, but not disastrous, season with a 33-49 record. Despite the losing record, the chances of getting a high draft pick were slim, but the team amazingly landed in the No. 2 spot.

I was in Germany at the time conducting a three-week lecture at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. I learned of the Grizzlies’ draft position the next day in a social media post from Kyle Veazey, a former newspaper colleague.

“Welcome to Memphis, Ja Morant,” Veazey posted. I had never heard of him. So, of course, I immediately Googled the name. What popped up was a series of YouTube videos of Morant making one spectacular play after another as a point guard for Murray State University in Kentucky.

And from there, it was all love and basketball. 

From his first game in a Grizzlies uniform until now, Morant has brought pure joy to us fans. We will always remember that thunderous dunk against Cleveland during his rookie season, a play that Grizzlies TV analyst Brevin Knight said “just woke up the building.”

Report: Colorado police investigating Ja Morant video

We relished in Morant’s thrilling overtime performance in a road victory over Steph Curry and Golden State in 2021 that eliminated the Warriors and put the Grizzlies in the playoffs for the first time in four years.

And who can forget his 52-point performance last season against San Antonio that included arguably the best dunk of his young career over 7-1 center Jakob Poeltl? Or his more recent 39-point performance Feb. 28 in a home win over the Los Angeles Lakers?

I have delighted in every shining moment — every thunderous dunk, every pinpoint no-look pass, every display of swagger and every griddy dance.

Because to us fans, that’s who Morant is — a young undersized NBA player brimming with confidence, matched by talent — who gives Memphis the national sports attention we crave.

Only now, all that attention is on Morant’s flaws as a wannabe bad boy.

Herrington: Thoughts on Ja Morant’s absence, and Brandon Clarke’s

As fans, we absorbed the reports of Morant allegedly assaulting a teenager during a pickup game at his home, his alleged threats against a Wolfchase Galleria security guard and that murky incident involving a laser pointed at the team bus of the Indiana Pacers.

I’ve also heard street rumors of other unsettling incidents involving Morant. But like other true-blue fans, I put it all aside because, to me, Ja is so likable. He is a once-in-a-generation talent who could finally lead Memphis to an NBA championship.

I have raved about him so much that my family has bought me three Morant jerseys and other memorabilia as Christmas gifts.

But the Instagram video of Morant wielding a gun at a club in the wee hours of the morning after a loss in Denver cannot be put aside. It is inexcusable and could potentially derail a promising career.

Yes, others, including former NBA players, are coming to his defense. Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce tweeted this: “I don’t care what y’all say about Ja. I carried a gun after I was stabbed. Y’all don’t know what he going thru. Everyone got something to say until u really know what’s really going on in someone life. When u black and rich u a target period.”

Grizzlies Insider: Jaren Jackson Jr., other teammates voice support for Ja Morant

Believe me, I get it. Life is tough for young Black men — rich, middle class or impoverished. Young Black women too. I made my share of mistakes as a young adult, though thankfully never with a gun in my hand. And I helped raise three sons, all now in their 40s, and a daughter now in her late 20s. All of them made mistakes too, some more serious than others.

So I believe in redemption. Which means I believe Morant will get through this and get back to being the dazzling ballplayer I first discovered in a foreign country thanks to YouTube.

Perhaps that’s my fandom talking. But Memphis is in dire need of a feel-good story, a story of redemption, of overcoming our stumbles, our pain and our negative national image.

In essence, we need Ja Morant to bring his moves back to the Grindhouse soon and break ankles — not hearts.