Morant debuted the Nike Ja 1’s at the Christmas game

Memphis Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant will present his first signature shoe with Nike when his team appears in its first Christmas Day game in franchise history.

“Just being able to have an iconic shoe with Nike, not a lot of guys get to achieve that,” said Morant. “It was definitely a huge milestone for me and something I will never forget.”

The Grizzlies take on the Golden State Warriors on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. Morant will wear his namesake sneaker for the first time in bright blue, with gold, pink, lime green and red accents.

On Christmas Eve, he teased his debut by posting on social media a gift from his daughter, Carrie, wrapped in a repeating pattern featuring his new signature logo. His daughter’s name is also stamped on the inside half of the shoe.

🎄🎁👀 pic.twitter.com/vRpFRqyD91

– Ja Morant (@JaMorant) December 25, 2022

While the process of designing and developing a signature shoe typically takes about 18-24 months, Morant will launch the Nike Ja 1 early, with the shoe not expected to hit retail until later in 2023. The retailer’s launch calendars. The shoe is expected to cost $110.

“I feel the most important thing is to tell a story,” Morant said. “Obviously, finding ways to get my fans and the people who support me to have access to Ja and see what’s going on in my life and what I’m up to. Merging with Nike to put all that stuff into a shoe was crazy.”

Morant will become the 23rd NBA player in league history to have his own sneaker with Nike. Paul George in 2017 and Kyrie Irving in 2014 were the latest two to launch their own shoes. The brand has touted Morant as “Nike Basketball’s first signature athlete,” and recently featured the Grizzlies star in its 50th anniversary campaign as it looks to the company’s future.

“[Ja Morant] “His authentic personality, deep love for his community and family, and joy for the game are very special to him — on and off the court,” said Scott Monson, Vice President of Nike Global Men’s Basketball. “We’re thrilled to add Morant to our featured list and can’t wait for everyone to know more about his first shoe, the Nike Ja 1. .”

The sneaker features a low-profile silhouette, with a mesh and leather upper and a reinforced support panel along the forefoot. Its “JA” logo can be found along the flap of the tongue. Placed above the chevron, the stylized line represents the 23-year-old’s rise as a discarded South Carolina player and a family crest for the Morants.

“When I was a kid, whenever I wondered if I was good enough, my parents would say, ‘I am under no one,’” he said of the motto now tattooed on his left arm. “And that is what I want everyone to feel when they wear a Ja 1 — that they are not under anyone.”