Ja Morant Bio
Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant, born August 10, 1999, is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wearing jersey number 12, the 6-foot-2, 174-pound guard has become one of the league’s most electrifying young stars since being drafted second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant is widely recognized for his explosive athleticism, deep shooting range, and ability to create highlight-reel plays for teammates and himself.
Morant has earned two NBA All-Star selections, the NBA Rookie of the Year award, the NBA Most Improved Player award, and an All-NBA Second Team selection. He played college basketball for the Murray State Racers, where he set records and was named a consensus first-team All-American as a sophomore in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Temetrius Jamel Morant was born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, to parents Tee Morant and Jamie Morant. His mother, Jamie, was a point guard in high school and played softball in college, while his father, Tee, was a high school teammate of NBA great Ray Allen and played basketball at Claflin University. After playing semi-professionally, Tee chose to abandon his basketball career when Jamie became pregnant with Ja, and he became a barber to support the family.
Morant credits much of his basketball development to his father, who trained him in their backyard by teaching him step-back jump shots and using tractor tires to practice jumping with soft landings. He often faced opponents older than himself, famously telling his mother, “I’m not worried about the big kids.” Morant played on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit with the South Carolina Hornets, a grassroots team based in Columbia, South Carolina, and for one season he was a teammate of Zion Williamson.
Morant attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, where he grew from 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall during his first three years. He left as Crestwood’s all-time leading scorer with 1,679 points, set a career-high 47 points against Sumter High School, and earned South Carolina Class 3A All-State honors in each of his final two seasons. A three-time All-Region Most Valuable Player, Morant was unable to dunk until his senior year and went unranked by major recruiting services despite his prolific high school production.
Path to Basketball
Morant’s only high-major NCAA Division I scholarship offer came from South Carolina, and he was not ranked in the class of 2017 by ESPN, 247Sports, or Rivals. His breakthrough came in July 2016 when Murray State assistant coach James Kane spotted him playing three-on-three in an auxiliary gym while searching for a snack. Impressed by Morant’s skill, Kane contacted head coach Matt McMahon, who soon offered a scholarship. On September 3, 2016, Morant committed to Murray State during dinner at McMahon’s house. His father later said, “Every parent wants their child to play at a big-time program, but what I realized is, don’t go where you want to be, go to where they want you.”
Morant made an immediate impact at Murray State, debuting on November 10, 2017, with 7 points and a team-high 11 assists in a win over Brescia University. He posted his first triple-double on December 28, 2017, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in a win over Eastern Illinois, recording the second triple-double in school history. After averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists as a freshman, Morant earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) honors and helped Murray State reach the NCAA Tournament.
Morant’s sophomore season cemented his national profile. On January 10, 2019, he set the school record with 18 assists against UT Martin, and nine days later scored 40 points, 11 assists, and 5 steals against SIU Edwardsville while going a perfect 21-for-21 from the free-throw line. He was named OVC Player of the Year, led the NCAA in assists, and became the first NCAA player in history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game in a single season. Murray State retired his number 12 jersey in recognition of his impact.
Ja Morant Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Morant was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and signed a four-year, $39.6 million rookie contract on July 2, 2019. He made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, recording 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a loss to the Miami Heat. His first career double-double came on November 13, 2019, with 23 points and 11 assists, including a game-winning layup against the Charlotte Hornets.
On February 9, 2020, Morant recorded his first career triple-double in a win over the Washington Wizards. He led all rookies in assists with 7.1 per game and total points with 1,138 (17.8 per game). At season’s end, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Memphis Grizzlies Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Morant’s second season featured a then-career-high 44 points on December 23, 2020, against the San Antonio Spurs. On May 21, 2021, he scored 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead Memphis past the Golden State Warriors and secure the franchise’s first postseason berth in four years. In his playoff debut two days later, Morant scored 26 points to upset the top-seeded Utah Jazz, and he followed that with 47 points in Game 2.
The 2021–22 season marked Morant’s arrival as a superstar. He set a then-career-high 46 points against the Chicago Bulls on February 26, 2022, breaking Mike Miller’s franchise record, before topping it two days later with 52 points against the San Antonio Spurs. Morant was selected to his first All-Star Game as a West starter on January 27, 2022. He led the Grizzlies to their first Southwest Division title and a franchise-tying 56 wins, earning the NBA Most Improved Player Award despite missing 25 games. In the playoffs, he posted the first postseason triple-double in Grizzlies history and recorded 47 points in a Game 2 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Memphis Grizzlies Era (2022–Present)
On July 6, 2022, Morant signed a five-year contract extension worth $193 million, increasing to $231 million with an All-NBA trigger. He opened the 2022–23 season with 49 points against the Houston Rockets, breaking the franchise mark for most points in the first two games. On February 2, 2023, Morant was named to his second NBA All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve. He surpassed Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in Grizzlies history during the season.
After returning from a 25-game suspension in December 2023, Morant scored 34 points and hit a game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans. A right shoulder subluxation in January 2024 required season-ending surgery, limiting him to nine games. During the 2024–25 season, the Grizzlies fired longtime head coach Taylor Jenkins with nine games remaining, and Morant expressed public frustration with his decreased role. The team made the playoffs, and on April 3, 2025, he hit a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Miami Heat. In 2026, Morant suffered a UCL sprain in his left elbow on January 21, leading the team to announce on March 24 that he would miss the remainder of the season. He played just 20 games and averaged 19.5 points per game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Morant is renowned for his explosive first step, exceptional body control, and elite finishing ability at the rim. His creativity in the pick-and-roll and willingness to attack the paint make him a constant scoring threat, while his court vision allows him to deliver high-level assists. Defenders must respect his deep shooting range, which has become a larger part of his offensive arsenal since his second NBA season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Morant’s signature moments include his 52-point outburst against the San Antonio Spurs on February 28, 2022, his 47-point playoff performance against the Golden State Warriors on May 3, 2022, and his triple-double in the 2019 NCAA Tournament opener against Marquette. He also became the third player in NBA playoff history, alongside Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, to record multiple 45-point games before turning 23.
Ja Morant Career Wins
Across his professional career, Morant has earned All-Star selections, an All-NBA Second Team nod, and the NBA Most Improved Player Award while helping Memphis capture its first Southwest Division title. His collegiate résumé includes the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, the Bob Cousy Award, and the Lute Olson Award.
NBA Highlights
Morant’s first NBA win came in his debut season, highlighted by a game-winning layup against the Charlotte Hornets. He later delivered a 47-point performance in a 2021 playoff upset of the Utah Jazz and scored 52 points against the San Antonio Spurs in 2022. Most recently, Morant hit a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Miami Heat on April 3, 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
At Murray State, Morant captured two OVC tournament championships and was named OVC tournament Most Valuable Player. He was also selected to Chris Paul’s Elite Guard Camp and earned consensus first-team All-American honors in 2019. In media, Morant released the six-episode documentary “Promiseland” on June 3, 2021, chronicling his rookie NBA season.
Ja Morant Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Morant comes from an athletic family rooted in South Carolina. His father, Tee Morant, played college basketball at Claflin University and was a high school teammate of Hall of Famer Ray Allen. His mother, Jamie Morant, played point guard in high school and softball in college, and she remains a central influence on his career. Morant also has a younger sister, Teniya, who grew up playing basketball with him and later competed for Mississippi Valley State.
Personal Life
Morant has the phrase “beneath no one,” advice from his mother, tattooed on his left arm. His athleticism and playing style have drawn frequent comparisons to Russell Westbrook, whom Morant has cited as his favorite player because Westbrook, like him, was once overlooked by major college recruiters. Morant has a daughter who was born on August 7, 2019.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season was a turbulent one for Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. After returning from his 25-game suspension and a shoulder injury that ended his prior season, Morant appeared in games for Memphis but publicly voiced frustration with a decrease in touches, scoring opportunities, and efficiency. The situation peaked on March 28, 2025, when the Grizzlies fired longtime head coach Taylor Jenkins with only nine games remaining, leaving assistant Tuomas Iisalo to lead the team into the playoffs.
Despite the disruption, Memphis finished 44–29 and entered the 2025 NBA playoffs. Morant scored 22 points in the playoff opener and later delivered a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Miami Heat on April 3, 2025. The league later fined him $75,000 for inappropriate in-game gestures, and a 2025 judge dismissed a 2022 civil lawsuit over an off-court incident after ruling he had acted in self-defense.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies will continue building around their franchise point guard as he recovers from another injury-shortened year. With his long-term contract extension secured and a young core around him, Morant’s focus will be on returning to full health and reclaiming his All-NBA form in 2025 and beyond.
