Ja Morant is an American professional basketball athlete associated with the Memphis Grizzlies in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Morant showcased his skills in college basketball with the Murray State Racers, earning recognition as a consensus first-team All-American during his sophomore year in 2019.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 24 years
Height- 1.88 m
Weight- 79 kg
Born- 10 August 1999
Birthplace- Dalzell, South Carolina, United States
Profession-American basketball player
Nationality- American
Current team- Memphis Grizzlies (#12 / Point guard)
Parents
Ja Morant’s parents are Tee Morant and Jamie Moran. his mother, Jamie, excelled as a point guard during her high school years and later pursued softball at the college level. On the other hand, his father was not only a high school teammate of basketball legend Ray Allen but also played collegiate basketball at Claflin University.
Siblings
Ja Morant has a younger sister named Teniya. They shared a childhood playing basketball together in their backyard. Currently, Teniya is actively involved in basketball and competes for Hillcrest Middle School in Dalzell.
Girlfriend
Ja Morant’s former girlfriend was Kadre Dixon, and the couple started dating in 2017. During that period, as Morant was preparing to enter the NBA. Morant is the father of a four-year-old girl from this relationship. However, amidst Morant’s off-court issues, the couple decided to go their separate ways.
Career
Morant honed his skills in his backyard with his father, Tee Morant, practicing step-back jump shots and using tractor tires for soft landing drills. Despite facing older opponents in his childhood, Morant fearlessly declared to his mother, “I’m not worried about the big kids.” He also played in the AAU circuit with the South Carolina Hornets, a grassroots team in Columbia, South Carolina, and was once teammates with Zion Williamson, who later became a top player in their class.
Despite being lightly recruited and unranked by recruiting services, Morant, a standout at Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, with multiple All-Region MVP and All-State honors, made a significant impact at Murray State University. In his freshman year, he earned first-team all-conference honors in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). Morant’s sophomore season was a breakout, winning OVC Player of the Year and leading the NCAA in assists. Remarkably, he became the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists per game in a single season. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Morant with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020.
On May 21, 2021, in the play-in tournament, Ja Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies to their first postseason in four seasons with a 35-point performance against the Golden State Warriors. On October 20, 2021, he scored 37 points in the season opener, and on October 24, he recorded 40 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. During Game 3 of the playoffs on April 21, 2022, Morant achieved the first postseason triple-double in Grizzlies history. He signed a five-year extension with the Grizzlies on July 6, 2022. On January 29, 2023, Morant secured his seventh career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. After an eight-game suspension and counseling, Morant returned on December 19, 2023, scoring 34 points and hitting the game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ja Morant Gun incidents
On March 4, an NBA investigation was launched into an Instagram Live video of Morant displaying a gun at a Colorado nightclub. The same day, the Grizzlies announced Morant’s absence for at least two games. Morant released a statement, citing an “indefinite” leave to address stress and anxiety, deactivating social media accounts. Nike supported his decision, emphasizing well-being. Morant entered a counseling program in Florida. Coach Jenkins stated no return timetable on March 5, and on March 8, the Grizzlies announced his continued absence for at least four games.
On March 15, Morant met with Commissioner Adam Silver in New York after counseling. NBA suspended him for eight games without pay for the nightclub incident. This suspension included the six games missed during his leave, making him eligible to return on March 20.
On May 14, two months later, Morant was suspended from team activities for flashing a gun during another Instagram Live session on his friend’s account. NBA Commissioner Silver expressed shock, and further disciplinary actions were under consideration. On June 16, he received a 25-game suspension, contingent on fulfilling a league-sponsored program addressing his actions.
Ja Morant Contract
In 2022, Morant inked a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies worth $197.2 million. The agreement is set to take effect from the 2023-24 season and will run through the 2027-28 season.
Ja Morant’s Legal Issue
In September 2022, Morant faced a lawsuit in Shelby County, Tennessee, accused of punching a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at his home. Morant claimed self-defense, and officials found insufficient evidence to proceed with a case. A subsequent report by The Washington Post detailed Morant allegedly displaying a gun after the altercation and making threats. Another incident involved Morant and his entourage confronting mall security in Memphis. On March 6, 2023, Glendale, Colorado police investigated Morant for allegedly brandishing a gun in a strip club on Instagram live; however, no criminal charges were filed due to a lack of probable cause.
Ja Morant Net Worth
Ja Morant’s Net Worth is valued at $50 million.
Latest News about Ja Morant
Ja Morant’s Sensational Return: 34 Points and Buzzer-Beater Propel Grizzlies to Victory
Ja Morant concluded an impressive season debut with a dazzling 34-point performance, sealing the Memphis Grizzlies’ 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Despite a challenging start with a five-game losing streak and a 6-19 record during Morant’s 25-game suspension, the Grizzlies staged a remarkable comeback from a 24-point deficit in the first half. Morant’s decisive play included a game-winning floater at the buzzer, capping off a dramatic sequence that left the crowd in awe and Morant and his teammates celebrating under the basket.
“I’ve been putting work in, man,” Morant said. “I ain’t play a game in eight months. Had a lot of time to learn myself. A lot of hard days where I went through it. But you know, basketball is my life — what I love, therapeutic for me. And I’m just excited to be back.”
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins orchestrated the winning play specifically for Morant, praising the two-time All-Star’s execution as “a special play by a special player.” Morant’s remarkable point total marked an NBA record for a player returning from an absence of at least 25 games.
Contributing to Memphis’ victory, Jaren Jackson Jr. notched 24 points, and Desmond Bane added 21, putting an end to the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak. Despite Brandon Ingram’s impressive 34-point performance for New Orleans, Zion Williamson faced limited court time due to foul trouble, finishing with just 13 points.
Morant faced initial boos from partisan Pelicans fans during pregame introductions and the opening possession but won them over with an outstanding display. As the game progressed, the boos faded, and a contingent of visiting fans near the Memphis bench voiced their support. Morant’s eight-point burst, highlighted by challenging driving shots while drawing fouls, garnered attention in the early third quarter.
Reflecting on Morant’s return, Coach Jenkins emphasized his expectation for Morant to have fun on the court, playing with speed and freedom, showcasing his dynamic abilities.
