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Ja Morant - Net Worth, Height Career, Early Life

Ja Morant is a professional basketball player who currently plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Murray State Racers, and was drafted second overall by the Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA draft.

basketball game
Net Worth $50 million
Source Of WealthBasketball
Born10th August 1999
Birth NameTemetrius Jamel Morant
Height6ft 3in (191cm)

Ja Morant is quickly becoming one of the NBA's most electrifying superstars.

Not only is he one of the most exciting players to watch, but he has also become one of the most popular athletes in the sport, accounting for about 9.4% of the entire NBA's social media views.

In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about Ja Morant, including his net worth, salary, early life, career, and family.

Let's dive in.

Early Life of Ja Morant

On August 10, 1999, Temetrius Jamel Morant was born in Dalzell, South Carolina.

Both of his parents were basketball athletes. His father, Tee Morant, was even a teammate of legendary NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen in high school. He later went to Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Ja's mother, Jamie, played point guard in high school and later played softball in college.

Tee Morant continued his basketball career overseas, but couldn't continue to chase his sports dreams because of Ja's birth. He eventually became a barber to support his family.

Later, Tee and Jamie also gave birth to a girl named Teniya. Basketball runs through her blood as well. She's a huge fan of the NBA and currently plays for Hillcrest Middle School.

Ja trained as a basketball player in his backyard with his father. Tee taught him how to perfect his jump shots and even acquired tractor tires for him to practice jumping with a soft landing. Even though Ja constantly faced older kids as a child, he was quoted as saying "I'm not worried about the big kids."

As Ja grew up, one of Ja's first serious basketball teams was the South Carolina Hornets, an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team based in Columbia, South Carolina. He was notably teammates with Zion Williamson, the NBA player that would later be drafted 1st in his class — one spot ahead of Ja.

He went on to play for Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, and he grew three inches during that time. He graduated from the school as its all-time leading scorer with 1,679 points. He averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game in his final two seasons and became a three-time all-region MVP.

He finally landed his first dunk as a senior at Crestwood — something that would later become one of his trademark moves.

College Career

Surprisingly, Ja wasn't ranked by any of the main recruiting services. The only major offer he came from Murray State.

It almost happened by accident — the assistant coach of Murray State, James Kane, came to see a different player that was joining his team. While looking for a snack, he saw Ja Morant playing 3v3 on a different court and was impressed. An offer from Murray State came soon after.

In his first game in November 2017, Ja made his debut for Murray State with 7 points and a team-high of 11 assists. One month later, he recorded his first double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. At the end of December, he bagged his first triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists — only the second triple-double in school history.

By the end of his freshman year, his 6.3 assists per game were 14th in the nation. They later reached the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round to West Virginia.

During his sophomore year, he was one of 20 players invited to Chris Paul's Elite Guard Camp. His scoring shot up, making 26 points and 11 assists in his debut game. By December, he was already being projected as a top-five selection in the 2019 draft, with at least one news outlet projecting him first overall.

Morant became the first NCAA Division 1 men's player to make 40 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals in a single game in 20 years. He was named the OVC Player of the Year by the end of the season and led the NCAA Divison I in assists.

Ja Morant led his team to the NCAA tournament and won in the first round against fifth-seeded Marquette, but they lost in the second round to Florida State.

NBA Rookie Year

After the tournament, Morant announced that he would forgo his last two seasons at Murray State and declare for the 2019 NBA draft. He ended up getting drafted second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

On July 2, 2019, he signed his first contract as a professional basketball player worth $39.6 million over four years. He made his first appearance on October 23, 2019, against the Miami Heat. He scored 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and a block.

Just a few months later, he scored his first triple-double against the Washington Wizards. During the All-Star Weekend, Ja was selected for the Rising Stars Game. By the end of the year, he led all rookies in total points scored as well as the highest assists per game at 7.1.

At the end of the season, Ja was selected as the NBA Rookie of the Year — an incredibly prestigious honor that was a tight race with his former teammate, Zion Williamson. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Sophomore NBA Year

In his sophomore season, Ja scored his then career-high of 44 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This marked the "next-level" of stardom for Ja Morant and turned many heads. Many began believing he might be one of the next superstars of the league.

At the end of the season, Ja's Grizzlies played in the play-in tournament and won against the Golden State Warriors, taking the Grizzlies to their first postseason in four years.

In his postseason debut, he scored 26 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds to upset the number-one-seeded Utah Jazz. However, the Grizzlies were eliminated from the series in five games.

Current NBA Career

In his third season as an NBA player, Ja continued to shine on the court and regularly scored over 30 or 40 points on a nightly basis. He scored several triple-doubles along the way, making the Grizzlies one of the more powerful teams in the western conference.

In January, he was named as a starter in his first All-Star game and played alongside LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and other superstars in the league.

Later in February, he scored a then-career-high of 46 points against the Chicago Bulls, which was the record for most points in a game for the Memphis Grizzlies previously made by Mike Miller.

Just two days later, Morant broke his own record and scored 52 points against the Spurs. Unfortunately, Morant hurt his knee and missed several games afterward. However, Memphis still made the playoffs.

At the end of the season, he was awarded the NBA Most Improved Player Award despite missing 25 games during the regular season.

In the playoffs, the Grizzlies faced off against a feisty young Minnesota Timberwolves team. He scored the first postseason triple-double in Grizzlies history against them. In Game 5, he scored a game-winning layup with one second left.

In the next round, the Grizzlies faced off against one of their more despised rivals, the Golden State Warriors. He played well and became just the third player in playoff history to have several 45-point games before turning 23, joining NBA legends Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

However, Ja later injured his knee in Game 3, and his team would go on to lose in 6 games.

After the Grizzlies season concluded, Ja signed a five-year extension worth $193 million of guaranteed money that could increase to up to $231 million if selected to an All-NBA team.

Net Worth and Salary

Ja Morant's superior skills on the court have led him to "secure the bag" at a young age. Currently, his net worth is $50 million. He earns over $11 million annually and has been seen traveling the world.

His bank balance has around $4 million while having around $27 million in assets and investments.

Car Collection

Morant owns six luxury cars. Most recently, he purchased an Aston Martin Vantage worth $350,000. He also owns a Rolls-Royce Dawn worth $1 million. He also owns a Mercedes-Benz A-Class, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche Cayenne, and a Ferrari Roma.

He also purchased luxury cars for both his mother and father. He bought his father a Dodge Charger worth $80,945 the day he got drafted.

House

Ja Morant purchased a 5,000 square-foot luxury house in his hometown of Dalzell, South Carolina. He purchased the villa for $14 million.

He also lives in a luxurious house in Memphis for work, but is more often seen living with his family.

Endorsements

Ja Morant is not only a professional athlete, but is quickly becoming one of the more popular celebrities that come from the league. He is endorsed by many brands, such as Nike, BodyArmor, and Hyper Ice.

Private Life

Although Ja Morant is currently single, he used to date rapper Kadre Dixon (KK Dixon). She was Ja Morant's first girlfriend and they went to college together. They also had a child together named Kaari Jaidyn Morant.

Although they have a child together, it is unclear when they broke up. Ja is a very supportive father, and his daughter is often seen at NBA games with him.

Ja Morant's Cultural Impact

In the modern sports world, social media is a huge part of how fans and players interact with each other. Players like LeBron James and Steph Curry have had some of the biggest cultural impacts on the older generation.

However, Ja Morant has quickly become the most popular player of his generation. His high-flying and explosive playing style, his swagger, and his personality have all contributed to him becoming bigger than the game.

Ja Morant is the leader of views on the NBA's social-media platforms with 149.3 million views. The next closest is Steph Curry with 88 million. His legendary dunk against the Timberwolves generated 44 million views on its own. On Instagram, he currently has 7.5 million followers and posts popular videos on a daily basis.

On a deeper level, Ja Morant has become one of the most popular icons to come out of Memphis in years — maybe history. He has been a catalyst for the Memphis economy after only being in the league for 2 years.

When he came into the league, the Grizzlies ranked 26th in fan attendance out of 30 teams. They quickly jumped to 14th with Ja's jaw-dropping play. He is also one of the most popular jerseys sold in the entire NBA.

One thing that fans love about Ja Morant is that he stepped into the spotlight and fully embraced it. He never shied away from tough players and has gotten into feuds with grizzled veterans like Draymond Green. Players like Shaquille O'Neal have been effusive in their praise about Ja.

He's constantly seen as an "underdog" waiting to take on the entire world with his basketball play.

FAQ

Is Ja Morant married?

No, Ja Morant is not married.

What is Ja Morant's weight?

He weighs 158 lbs (72 kilograms).

What is Ja Morant's height?

He is 6 foot 3 inches (1.91 meters).

Where did Ja Morant go to school?

He attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina. He later went to Murray State.

What nicknames does Ja Morant have?

He doesn't yet have a go-to nickname, but has been called "Ja Dropper" and G12.

Ja Morant's Bright Future

Ja Morant is only 22 years old and is already being compared to some of the biggest stars in the world, like Dwyane Wade, Clyde Drexler, and Derrick Rose. It's clear he will be a sports star in the NBA for decades to come.

He is already the most exciting professional athlete to come into the league. It's rare to find players that have that mix of explosive play, dynamic personality, and great, small-town background that makes such a lovable athlete.

Our net worths are for entertainment purposes only. We do our best to provide accurate figures, but we cannot guarantee their accuracy. The figures are based on public information and estimates, and may not reflect the true value of assets or liabilities.

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