Ja Morant, the unstoppable guard leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the level of championship contenders, receives his first Nike signature shoe on Christmas Day. The current release date for this launch colorway is April 2023.
Ja joins a highly exclusive roster that hasn’t seen a new face since Paul George made his debut in 2017. Ja is the newest member of the Nike Basketball family. After he signed with the company in 2019, the Swoosh was always planning to add the rising superstar, and the shoe had been in the works for roughly two years. However, it cannot be ignored that the brand has officially ended its partnership with Kyrie Irving, so Ja’s arrival fills an unexpected void.
The Ja 1 was designed with an emphasis on the “underdog.” James Kane, an assistant coach at Murray State, happened upon him by chance rather than as a highly sought-after protégé. Morant has established himself as a legitimate perennial MVP candidate in just his fourth season, and his dedication to the game helped him be selected second overall in the competitive 2019 draft.
Ja Morant is referred to as Nike Basketball’s first “Gen-Z athlete.” This is very important because the brand’s signature stars are older than the current crop of young stars like Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, Anthony Edwards, and others.
Ja is confirmed to debut the Nike Ja 1 “Day One” during the Golden State Warriors vs. Ja game on Christmas Day (8 p.m. ET).
