Ja Morant

Ja Morant Bio

Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant, born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. Known for his explosive athleticism and playmaking ability, Morant has quickly risen from a lightly recruited high school prospect to one of the NBA’s most recognizable young stars. He plays the point guard position and has earned multiple All-Star selections and major individual awards since entering the league in 2019.

Morant first gained national attention during his sophomore season at Murray State University, where he became the first player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game in a single season. Selected second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft, he went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2020 and has since established himself as the face of the Grizzlies franchise. Off the court, he is a father and an active figure on social media, where he shares aspects of his training and personal life with millions of followers.

Early Life and Background

Temetrius Jamel Morant was born in Dalzell, South Carolina, to Tee and Jamie Morant. His mother, Jamie, was a point guard in high school and a softball player in college, while his father, Tee, was a high school teammate of future NBA Hall of Famer Ray Allen and played college basketball at Claflin University. After playing semi-professionally, Tee considered pursuing a professional career overseas, but when Jamie became pregnant with Ja, he chose to step away from basketball and work as a barber to support his family.

From an early age, Morant trained in the backyard with his father, who taught him step-back jump shots and bought tractor tires to help him practice jumping with a softer landing. He often faced opponents older and larger than himself, telling his mother that he was not worried about the bigger kids. Morant played on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit with the South Carolina Hornets, a small grassroots team based in Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent one season as a teammate of Zion Williamson.

Morant attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, where he grew from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall during his first three years. He finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,679 points, including a career-high 47 points against Sumter High School. Over his final two seasons, he averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, earning South Carolina Class 3A All-State honors both years and three-time All-Region Most Valuable Player recognition. He could not dunk the basketball until his senior year.

Path to Professional Basketball

Despite his high school production, Morant was not ranked in the class of 2017 by recruiting services such as ESPN, 247Sports, or Rivals. His only high-major NCAA Division I offer came from South Carolina, and he was overlooked by most major college programs. That changed in July 2016, when Murray State assistant coach James Kane attended a camp hoping to see a different player and noticed Morant playing a three-on-three game in an auxiliary gym. Impressed, Kane contacted head coach Matt McMahon, who soon offered Morant a scholarship.

On September 3, 2016, Morant committed to playing for Murray State during dinner at McMahon’s house. His father later said that every parent wants their child to play at a big-time program, but what he realized is, “Don’t go where you want to be, go to where they want you.” Morant chose Murray State over other Division I offers from Duquesne, Maryland Eastern Shore, South Carolina State, and Wofford.

As a freshman at Murray State, Morant debuted on November 10, 2017, with 7 points and a team-high 11 assists in a victory over Brescia University. He earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference and OVC All-Newcomer Team honors, averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. During his sophomore season, he broke out nationally, recording multiple triple-doubles, leading the NCAA in assists, and becoming the first player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game. He was named OVC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American before declaring for the 2019 NBA Draft.

Ja Morant Career

Early Career (2019-2021)

Morant was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and signed a four-year contract worth $39.6 million on July 2, 2019. He made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, against the Miami Heat, finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. On November 13, 2019, he recorded his first career double-double with 23 points and 11 assists, hitting a game-winning layup against the Charlotte Hornets.

During his rookie season, Morant led all rookies in assists with 7.1 per game and total points scored with 1,138, averaging 17.8 points per game. He was selected to the Rising Stars Game and, at the end of the year, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He also earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. In his second season, he posted a then career-high 44 points against the San Antonio Spurs and led Memphis to its first postseason berth in four years through the play-in tournament, eventually falling to the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA Breakthrough (2021-2022)

The 2021-22 season marked Morant’s emergence as a superstar. On October 20, 2021, he opened the year with 37 points and six assists in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he later tied his career high with 44 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. On January 27, 2022, Morant was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game as a Western Conference starter. He then posted back-to-back career-high scoring nights, including 46 points against the Chicago Bulls and a then-franchise-record 52 points against the San Antonio Spurs on February 28, 2022.

Despite missing 25 games with a knee injury, Morant led the Grizzlies to their first Southwest Division title in franchise history and tied the franchise record with 56 wins. In the playoffs, he became the first player in Grizzlies history to record a postseason triple-double, scored a game-winning layup with one second left against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and dropped a playoff career-high 47 points on the Golden State Warriors. He was named the NBA Most Improved Player and selected to the All-NBA Second Team at season’s end.

Memphis Grizzlies Era (2022-Present)

On July 6, 2022, Morant signed a five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies worth $193 million in guaranteed money, increasing to $231 million if he met All-NBA criteria. He opened the 2022-23 season with 49 points against the Houston Rockets and continued producing triple-doubles at a historic pace, eventually tying and then surpassing Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in franchise history. He was named to his second All-Star Game as a reserve guard and scored 28 of his 39 points in the third quarter of a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the highest-scoring quarter in Grizzlies history.

After legal and personal issues led to suspensions during the 2022-23 season, Morant returned on December 19, 2023, scoring 27 of his 34 points in the second half with a game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans. On January 8, 2024, he underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery after a subluxation during practice, limiting him to nine games. In the 2024-25 season, he missed 10 games after a knee injury and has publicly stated that he will no longer attempt dunks to reduce the risk of further injury. The Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on March 28, 2025, with nine games remaining in the regular season and the team holding a 44-29 record.

Driving Style and Strengths

Morant is known for his exceptional speed, vertical leap, and body control around the rim, allowing him to finish at the basket against much taller defenders. His playmaking vision ranks among the best in the league, and he consistently creates scoring opportunities for teammates while also carrying a heavy offensive workload. He has drawn frequent comparisons to Russell Westbrook, whom he has cited as his favorite player, and his competitive fire has been a defining trait throughout his career.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Morant’s most memorable performances are his 52-point game against the San Antonio Spurs, his 47-point playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, and his franchise-record-setting third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first player in Grizzlies history to record a postseason triple-double and has set multiple team records for triple-doubles and single-game scoring. He has also been a two-time NBA All-Star, the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, and the 2022 NBA Most Improved Player.

Ja Morant Career Achievements

Morant has earned a series of prestigious awards and honors since entering the NBA. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020, selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and earned his first All-Star selection as a starter in 2022. The same year, he was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, cementing his status as one of the league’s rising stars.

NBA Season Highlights

Morant has been selected to the NBA All-Star Game in 2022 and 2023, establishing himself as a perennial selection in the Western Conference. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2022, reflecting his elite status among NBA guards. Additionally, he was recognized as the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020 and the NBA Most Improved Player in 2022.

Other Achievements

At the college level, Morant was a consensus first-team All-American in 2019, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, and the first NCAA Division I men’s basketball player in history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game in a single season. He also set multiple Murray State records, including single-season assists, career assists, and single-season points.

Ja Morant Family

Family Background and Basketball Lineage

Morant was born to Tee and Jamie Morant in Dalzell, South Carolina. His mother, Jamie, was a high school point guard and college softball player, while his father, Tee, played college basketball at Claflin University and was a high school teammate of Ray Allen. The couple raised Ja and his younger sister, Teniya, who grew up playing basketball with him in their backyard and went on to compete for Mississippi Valley State. Basketball has been a central part of the Morant family, with Tee serving as Ja’s earliest coach and trainer.

Personal Life

Morant has a daughter, born on August 7, 2019, shortly before his first NBA training camp. He has a younger sister, Teniya, who also plays basketball. Morant has the words “beneath no one,” advice his mother gave him, tattooed on his left arm. He has cited Russell Westbrook as his favorite player, noting that Westbrook is often overlooked in the same way he was by college recruiters.

2025 Season Performance

The 2024-25 NBA season has presented new challenges for Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. After missing time with a knee injury suffered on November 6, 2024, against the Los Angeles Lakers, he returned to the lineup and adjusted his playing style, publicly stating that he would no longer attempt dunks in games to reduce the risk of further injury. Through the early part of the season, his dunk attempts were significantly reduced, and he focused on perimeter scoring and playmaking.

On March 28, 2025, the Grizzlies made the surprising decision to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins with only nine games remaining in the regular season, despite the team holding a strong 44-29 record and being in position to secure a playoff berth. Following the dismissal, frustrations among the players became public, with Morant expressing displeasure over a noticeable decrease in his touches, points, and overall efficiency during the season.

As the regular season winds down, Morant and the Grizzlies are working to solidify their playoff position and adjust to the coaching change. With the team still in playoff contention, Morant remains a central figure in the franchise’s plans heading into the postseason.