Who Is Ja Morant?
Temetrius Jamel Morant, better known as Ja Morant, is an American basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies. Born to Tee and Jamie Morant in Dalzell, South Carolina on August 10, 1999, Ja has been pursuing his dreams of basketball since he was 8 or 9 years old. At nine, he was drafted to a AAU team.
Morant trained in his backyard with his father and sister daily, striving to be an NBA player. He has had his spot, jersey number 12, since July 2, 2019. Approaching college, he was not ranked by enlisting services like ESPN. With minimal offers on the table, Morant decided to play for Murray State. After his first two years at Murray State, Morant left Murray State to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft. On Dec. 12, 2017, in a loss to St. Louis, he recorded his first career double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.
During his second year of playing for South Carolina state, he began to seize the notice of some scouts. His breakout game came against Alabama, where he scored a season-high 38 points. As for his mother, in high school, she played point guard. Ja’s father was also a fellow basketball player, and was Ray Allen’s high school friend. Ja Morant and his girlfriend KK Dixon share a daughter, Kaari Jaidyn Morant.
His Career
Who hasn’t heard of Ja Morant by now? He’s already established himself as one of the NBA’s most exciting players and a serious MVP contender in just his third season of play. Ja was a highlight machine in college, but few could have predicted his success in the league. In 2019, everyone saw Ja Morant secure a multi-year deal with Nike right before the NBA Draft. Despite Morant being suspended from the team several times, he is still one of the Memphis Grizzlies top players.
The news that the Memphis Grizzlies have lost franchise player Ja Morant once more has devastated the whole NBA community. Positively, Nike has released Morant’s iconic Nike Ja 1 at a steady pace, and each release of the shoes has been a huge hit. We should see another hue that Nike recently revealed — one that is especially special to Morant — in the upcoming months.
The Nike Ja 1 is his first signature sneaker, and it releases with the new season. The upper is mostly composed of breathable mesh, with some overlays added for stability and style.
Nike Ja 1
Nike Kyrie 1, Nike Kobe 11, Nike Kobe 9 EM, Nike Kobe 8, and Nike KD 10 are the sneakers Ja has been wearing up to this point. Although Nike hasn’t formally disclosed any technical details, we know there is at least a forefoot Zoom Air unit (a smaller, more tightly stretched air pocket for a more responsive and low-profile feel), and that the traction is extremely aggressive.
Ja made his debut for his shoes on last Christmas against the Golden State Warriors. All of Ja Morant’s signature sneaker colorways have been based on his own quotes, personal mantras, and overall eclectic personality. “Constructed to keep players in control, maximize hang time, and reduce landing force through lockdown benefits,” is how Nike describes the Nike Ja 1.
Nike Ja 1’s Description
This upcoming colorway, titled “Red Stardust,” takes inspiration from Morant’s customized $30,000 grills which were designed by celebrity jeweler Johnny Dang. The shoes attribute a vigorous “Red Stardust” upper and contrary to prior Nike Ja 1 releases, this shoe will feature hits of premium leather panels throughout the toe box. On both heels, the Ja Morant emblem is visible as the upper rips to a vibrant red color. A spotless black outsole and a crisp speckled midsole completes the shoe. But what really makes these shoes unique are the little touches that Nike included in the design.
The tongue of the sneakers will feature Ja Morant’s “JM” logo in red, surrounded by a graphic of his grills. Every single canine tooth should be visible in blue diamonds, similar to the authentic grills of Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. While there’s no set release date, expect these to drop sometime during Spring 2024. Nike estimates the shoes to be available in Men’s and Big Kids sizes, with a suggested retail price of $140, similar to the normal Nike Ja 1.
Written By Dijana Reedfields.
Sources:
Lines – JA MORANT BIOGRAPHY DETAILS, AGE, NET WORTH, AND BASKETBALL CAREER
Sports Illustrated – Ja Morant Announces New Nike Products
Clutch Points – Ja Morant’s Nike Ja 1 coming in new ‘Red Stardust’ Colorway
WearTesters – Ja Morant Shoes: A Full Timeline
ANDSCAPE – Ja Morant: Point God from the back road
Top And Featured Image courtesy Of Erik Drost‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy Of Hideki Watanabe‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
