Is really Ja Morant the only one fined for making gun signs in the NBA?

1. What the NBA actually did — a clear, documented fine

The league announced a $75,000 fine for Ja Morant after he twice mimicked shooting a gun during a game and did so despite a league warning earlier in the week; multiple outlets reported the fine and the sequence of warning → repeat gesture → fine ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Coverage from CNN, ESPN‑linked reporting and The Athletic all emphasize that the fine followed a direct warning from the league office that the gestures were “inappropriate” ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

2. Were other players punished similarly? — Warnings, not fines, for at least one peer

Reporting shows the league issued warnings after a preceding incident in which Morant and Golden State guard Buddy Hield exchanged finger‑gun gestures; the league warned both teams/players to stop ^{[1] [3]}. The sources describe warnings for Hield but do not report a monetary fine or suspension for Hield in the same episode — only Morant’s fine is documented in these accounts ^{[1] [3]}.

3. Historical context: why Morant’s past made a difference

News outlets frame the fine against Morant’s disciplinary history: he previously received major suspensions for showing firearms on social media (including a 25‑game suspension) and earlier fines/sanctions, which the league referenced when disciplining him for on‑court gestures ^{[4] [5] [3]}. Coverage signals the NBA treated Morant’s repeat conduct as more serious because of prior incidents involving real firearms rather than only celebratory gestures ^{[4] [3]}.

4. Is Morant “the only one fined” for making gun signs in NBA history? — What sources say (and do not say)

Available reporting in the provided set documents Morant’s $75,000 fine in April 2025 and league warnings to Buddy Hield; none of these sources assert a history of other players being fined specifically for identical on‑court finger‑gun gestures in this news cycle ^{[1] [2] [3]}. That is not the same as a categorical claim that no player has ever been fined for a gun‑sign — available sources do not mention any other such fines, so a definitive historical statement is not supported by these articles ^{[1] [3]}.

5. Competing interpretations and league motive

Some outlets portray the fine as enforcement of a league standard against gestures that could be “interpreted in a negative light,” especially after a warning ^{[6] [3]}. Other coverage frames it as a consequence amplified by Morant’s prior behavior, effectively arguing the NBA’s action reflects a cumulative discipline policy rather than an isolated crackdown on celebratory gestures ^{[4] [5]}. Both perspectives appear in the reporting: the league emphasizes the immediate rule‑warning context, while reporters point to Morant’s prior suspensions as a likely factor in the severity of the penalty ^{[1] [3]}.

6. What this means going forward — precedent and messaging

Sources note the NBA explicitly told teams the gestures were inappropriate and instructed them to stop, signaling the league wants to deter similar displays; the Morant fine illustrates the consequence for repeating conduct after a warning ^{[1] [3]}. Whether the NBA will fine other players in future similar incidents is not documented in these reports; available sources do not provide a broader list of fines for finger‑gun celebrations beyond Morant’s case ^{[1] [3]}.

Limitations and caveats: the answer above uses only the provided reporting. The sources consistently report Morant’s $75,000 fine and prior disciplinary history and note a warning to Buddy Hield, but they do not offer a comprehensive history of every NBA fine ever issued for gun‑like gestures; therefore, no categorical claim beyond the cited reporting is supported here ^{[1] [2] [3]}.