NBA star Ja Morant, currently serving a 25-game suspension for unrelated incidents earlier this year, found himself in court on Monday, addressing allegations that he assaulted a teenager during a pickup basketball game at his residence last year.

Morant, known for his exceptional skills on the court, is accused of attacking 18-year-old Josh Holloway at his Memphis-area mansion. The incident reportedly unfolded after Holloway, a high-school basketball player, checked the ball to Morant, and it accidentally slipped through his hands, striking him in the face.

The teenager’s mother filed a lawsuit against Morant, asserting that he and his friends allegedly assaulted her son, punching him repeatedly in the head and face even while he was on the ground.

In response, Morant, through a countersuit, claims that he acted in self-defense. He alleges that Holloway intentionally threw a basketball at his face and then approached him aggressively with balled fists, seemingly ready to аttаck.

This legal development adds to the challenges Morant is currently facing, with his ongoing suspension drawing attention both on and off the court. The outcome of this legal proceeding will be closely watched by fans and the basketball community as Morant navigates these legal hurdles.