It’s official, the Memphis Grizzlies star is the latest NBA player to get his very own signature sneaker and if we’re honest the prolific point guard is a fitting choice for the brand following the 2022 that he’s had.
Let us present to you Ja Morant’s Nike Ja 1
Unless you’ve been avoiding all basketball related news, you probably know by now that Grizzlies star Ja Morant just became the latest NBA star – there have been 22 before him – to unveil a Nike signature sneaker. Known as the Nike Ja 1, Morant unveiled them on Christmas Day when his team met the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Interestingly, Morant is also officially Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z signature athlete, as he represents the next generation of basketball players who are shaping the future of the game. Indeed, with his fearless and aggressive style of play, along with his incredible athletic prowess, Morant has showcased an evolution in the way the game the is played today and quite frankly, Gen Z athletes like that and so do we.
Where the details are concerned, Morant’s signature logo is inspired by his dynamic precision and determined approach to the game. The logo itself features a stylized “JA” atop a chevron, which in turn represents both a directional nod to the verticality, speed and energy of his game. But wait, there’s more. As we understand it, when Morant was overlooked and under-recruited in college, his motto, “Beneath No One,” fueled the workouts that produced the high-flying player that we see today, which is to say, one that’s reshaping the very future of basketball. As for the functionality of the sneaker, it is understood that the overall construction of the sneaker is geared towards offering players greater control, more hang time and a reduction in the force of landing impact.
How did Ja Morant get here?
Though there probably isn’t a better ambassador in the league right now for Nike’s ethos, it’s interesting to note that Morant only became the latest signature athlete for the brand after its association with Nets star Kyrie Irving was terminated. Irving of course, embroiled himself in a massive controversy related to antisemitism and with that, ties were cut. Needless to say, this is a move that will serve both parties well, but on the other hand is one that many wanted to see. A seemingly humble, but confident young man with family values, the Grizzlies star has an endearing mixture of hard work and ‘anything you can do, I can do it better’ that is simply hard to resist.
With that said, we should tell you that while Morant turned heads on Christmas day with his new kicks, the rest of us won’t be able to get our hands on them until April of 2023 when they will go on sale globally. So, until then just take pleasure in watching this new generation player showing us why Nike chose him.
