Ahead of his first appearance in a Christmas Day game, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant unveiled his first signature shoe, the Nike Ja 1.
The Grizzlies are at full health for the first time all season with the return of Desmond Bane, who returned Friday after missing six weeks with a toe injury. Nike has said the shoe will be released for public sale in the summer of 2023 in three colorways. In a video posted to his Twitter account, Morant unveils the light blue, low-top sneaker by unwrapping a Christmas gift from his 3-year old daughter, Kaari.
With Stephen Curry sidelined by a shoulder injury for a showdown between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis, Morant will serve as the holiday headliner.
“When it comes to his family, his friends and his teammates, he takes care of a lot of people. Grizzlies television reporter Kelcey Wright Johnson noted that Morant has used social media to defend former teammate Grayson Allen from criticism and to credit Jae Crowder for aiding his adjustment to the NBA, in addition to nominating Jackson, Bane and Brooks for end-of-season awards. Morant [poured in 47 points in a Game 2 victory](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/04/ja-morant-grizzlies-warriors-game-2/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12) in front of a raucous home crowd, but he was forced to watch the final three games from the sidelines as the Warriors closed out the series and went on to win the title. When Morant suffered a fluky knee injury later in the series and blamed Warriors guard Jordan Poole, Bay Area fans and national analysts rushed to Poole’s defense. [a two-minute reel](https://twitter.com/DevInTheLab/status/1600198477262487552) featuring clips of Morant getting away with traveling and carrying the ball garnered more than 9 million views on Twitter. And with three triple-doubles in the past month, he has moved past Marc Gasol for the career franchise record in that category. “We’re showing we’ve got multiple guys who can go out there and score that ball,” Morant said after posting a triple-double in a blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. Tee Morant is a courtside regular and local celebrity, while Morant’s 3-year-old daughter, Kaari, has more than 119,000 followers on [an Instagram account run by her parents](https://www.instagram.com/kaarimorant/?hl=en). “Ja Morant has put the Grizzlies on the map,” said Keith Parish, a podcast host for Grind City Media and a die-hard Grizzlies fan since the franchise’s 2001 relocation from Vancouver. Morant joined a rebuilding Grizzlies franchise that plays in the league’s smallest television market and quickly reshaped it into a perennial winner. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have seen the biggest percentage increase in Instagram followers of any team, and their regional television broadcasts rank fifth leaguewide in household rating thanks to an 82 percent year-over-year increase. [evokes comparisons to Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul and Steve Nash](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/10/25/ja-morant-superstar-leap-grizzlies/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11), the wiry 6-foot-2 point guard has rarely gotten top billing in the basketball world.
Morant becomes the 23rd player in NBA history to receive his own signature sneaker with Nike.
He becomes the 23rd player in NBA history to receive his own signature sneaker with Nike. His daughter’s name is also stamped on the inner half of the shoe. — Ja Morant (@JaMorant)
"Just being able to have a signature shoe with Nike, not a lot of guys have been able to achieve that," Morant said. "It's definitely a big milestone for me and ...
"And that's how I want everyone to feel when they wear the Ja 1 -- that they're beneath no one." "His authentic personality, deep love for his community and family and joy for the game make him very special -- on and off the court. His signature "JA" logo can be found along the tongue tab. The brand has touted that Morant is "Nike Basketball's first Gen Z signature athlete," and recently featured the Grizzlies star in its 50th anniversary campaign while looking toward the future of the company. "I feel like the most important thing was telling a story," Morant said. While the design and development process of a signature shoe usually takes around 18-24 months, Morant will debut the Nike Ja 1 early, with the shoe not expected to hit retail until later in 2023.
Release date, plans and reaction from Nike and Ja Morant after the unveiling of his first signature shoe.
That's a part of the mentality and grind Morant wants others to feel when wearing the Ja 1. We are thrilled to add Morant to our signature roster and can’t wait for everyone to learn more about his first shoe, the Nike Ja 1.” is honored to partner with Ja Morant to serve the future of athletes and sport," Scott Munson, Nike VP, Global Men's Basketball said in the news release. The Ja 1 has a similar low-cut model, but the performative goals mimic those that you would expect of a sneaker from Morant. In a press release Sunday from Nike basketball, the brand introduced Morant as the first Gen Z signature athlete. Morant's logo features the letters JA above a chevron.
The Memphis guard becomes the brand's first Gen Z NBA signature athlete.
“Morant, Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z signature athlete, is a revolutionary player who quickly became a global star with his unmatched athleticism and exciting style of play. The All-Star is Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z signature athlete and the 23rd NBA player with his own shoe with the brand. “Nike is honored to partner with Ja Morant to serve the future of athletes and sport," said Scott Munson, Nike VP, Global Men's Basketball.
Only two NBA players have risen to billionaire status: Jordan and LeBron. Can Ja join them? The 23-year-old is charismatic and electric on the court and ...
Scouts advise that players like Morant be more like Mike and master the art of the jump shot to avoid constant contact, the way Jordan did. Derrick Rose, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2010-11 at age 22 and a high-flying guard much like Morant, was never the same after a 2012 Also as part of the deal, Hyperice sent $25,000 to Murray State to build a recovery room for athletes. By averaging 24.5 points and 10 assists a game in his sophomore season at Murray State, Ja became the first player to average at least 20 and 10 in a season since the NCAA began to officially recognize assists in 1983-84. One of the drills involved the younger Morant attacking the rim and Dad hitting him with a pad. To get even close to that record, Morant needs a talented supporting cast. Tee’s son was drafted by the Grizzlies, and so began his quest to be a billionaire. “He had that Michael Vick, Allen Iverson-type explosiveness on the court,” Huether tells Forbes. The 23-year-old is charismatic and electric on the court and seems to be building wealth for the long run. The Grizzlies guard wowed the owners. At a listed 6 feet 2 inches and 174 pounds, Morant is quick, “a beautiful player,” according to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, but a popsicle stick compared with Williamson, the only collegian chosen ahead of Morant in the 2019 draft, who’s listed at 6-6 and 284 pounds. Tee initially chased a pro career but abandoned the goal after Morant was born.
Kevin and Coach JY discuss the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Ja Morant is the 23rd player in NBA history to receive a signature shoe.
As always, Nike's primary goal with basketball sneakers is prioritizing the comfort level for performance. He's the first point guard to join the Nike signature shoe ranks since 2014, and he's the 23rd overall player to get a signature shoe. [Nike athletes with a signature shoe](https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2022/11/22/memphis-grizzlies-players-on-wearing-nba-signature-shoes-ja-morant/69641559007/).
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant debuted his first signature shoe with Nike yesterday in Memphis' Christmas Day matchup against the Warriors.