As the off-the-court incidents started to pile up for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, concern grew within the organization.

But it was his response to a February 2023 Meeting with general manager Zach Kleiman and head coach Taylor Jenkins that “deepened” fears that Morant’s problems would only get worse, according to a new ESPN report.

The situation for Morant came to a head when he was seen flashing a gun in two separate Instagram live incidents, both of which cost him a suspension from the league, including a 25-game ban to start this season.

However, the issues that preceded those were already causing a stir within the organization.

During that February meeting, Kleinman and Jenkins tried to convey to Morant that his actions were impacting the team and that had become a “major concern.”

One source indicated to ESPN that the overall message of the meeting was to get through to Morant that “You’re f—ing up.”

“Sometimes you have to have hard conversations,” another team source told the outlet.

However, according to the report, Morant responded with both disinterest and apathy, something that was disputed by his agent.

“As everyone is aware, Ja and the Grizzlies have had several meetings throughout this year,” Morant’s agent, Jim Tanner, said in a statement. “In each of these meetings the Grizzlies have been clear with their expectations while being supportive of Ja’s efforts to work on himself on and off the court. … It is grossly inaccurate to say that Ja’s response to any meetings with the Grizzlies has ever been dismissive.”

However, something during the meeting was enough to deepen the fears that Morant’s behavior would only grow more troublesome.

What seemed to be unknown to the general public prior to the major off-the-court issues were the warning signs that the organization was aware of.

Early on in his career, Morant already started to draw some concern.

One example was “how frequently Morant, underage and often accompanied by his father, would go out drinking, and at some of Memphis’ seedier establishments and strip clubs, including on nights before games,” the report stated.

Eventually, four events over a six-month period led to the sit-down in February of this year.

In July 2022, Morant and several friends threatened a sneaker salesperson at a Memphis mall after the person had gotten into a verbal exchange with Morant’s mother.

Less than a week later, a 17-year-old was allegedly struck by Morant and a friend at Morant’s house.

That incident led to an ongoing civil lawsuit.

A September 2022 incident at a high school volleyball match led to associates of Morant allegedly threatening a student.

And then there was the Jan. 29, 2023 incident when “a postgame confrontation between acquaintances of Morant’s and members of the Indiana Pacers traveling party had led the Pacers to allege a red laser, perhaps attached to a gun, had been pointed at them from an SUV Morant was in.”

“When you have a superstar, you make a deal with the devil,” a team source told ESPN. “You sign up for them, and everything that comes with them.”