How Ja Morant went from tiny town, homemade concrete basketball court & unheralded college to high-flying NBA star
IN JUST two years, Ja Morant has already become one of the NBA’s most exciting and loved players.
He stormed to Rookie of the Year honours in his debut campaign and took another big step in his development this season, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the play-offs after a coming out party in the Play-In tournament.
Morant, 21, and the Grizzlies overcame the San Antonio Spurs and then Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors – scoring 35 points in that crucial elimination game – to set up a series with the Utah Jazz.
His fearless, ferocious performance against Curry, one of the world’s very best players and biggest stars, set tongues wagging.
But it was no big deal to Morant who tells SunSport: “That’s just me, I don’t see why I would fear anybody who laces up the same way as I do.
“Once I’m on the court, inside those four lines and the ball goes up in the air, I feel like it’s my time to shine and prove myself that I’m one of the top players in this league. No matter who I’m going against.”
Although a promising Memphis team was eventually overpowered by Utah, Morant was again incredible, averaging 30 points and eight assists per game.
The series was also littered with the incredible highlight-reel dunks and plays we’ve come to expect from Morant.
But before he became one of the most exciting young players in the NBA, Morant was honing his skills on a DIY concrete basketball court put together by his dad, Tee, in the tiny town of Dalzell, South Carolina.
A new documentary, Promiseland, charts Morant’s unlikely rise from Dalzell – population 3,000 – to unheralded college Murray State and then Rookie of the Year honours.
Morant tells SunSport he wants people to learn more and see ‘a different side’ to him from the documentary.
On the concrete court Morant would hoop and practise skill work for two hours every day, as well as jump on tractor tires and go through other workouts.
His father had considered going pro in Europe and was a high school team-mate of Hall of Famer Ray Allen, one of the best shooters to ever play the game.
But despite his constant training and high school play, Morant Jr was not widely recruited and ended up playing at Murray State, a relatively unheralded school.
In his second season he exploded, gaining international attention for his exciting brand of play and becoming one of the best players in college, eventually becoming the second pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Two years on from that, and with a Rookie of the Year trophy in his cabinet, Morant still has a long way to go and a lot to prove, but has become one of the most exciting players in the league.
Kevin Durant called him his ‘favourite player’ and few will be surprised if he reaches the All-Star team next season.
But Morant knows he has work to do.
GETTING READY TO WORK
He says: “Just coming from where I’m from gave me that chip on my shoulder.
“Not being recruited or receiving recognition added to it and just made me go out there and prove myself each and every night.”
Despite his strong play to end the season, Morant is also preparing to work on ‘everything’ this off-season.
“I’ll keep working on everything,” he says, “I’m never satisfied.
“I’m trying to get better in all areas, whether its ball handling, finishing, defending.”
Memphis finished with a 38-34 record last season and many are expecting a young team full of potential to make a leap after their showing in the play-offs.
Morant says: “We’ve just got to continue to grow together.
“We just got a taste of what the play-offs is like and how tough it is to win, so we’ve got to continue to work together, grow together and get better each and every day. Just push.”
Most of those expectations will fall on Morant’s shoulders, but he has no immediate goals in sight or targets to hit.
“I just play. My only goal is to win a championship. I feel like if I do that everything else will fall into place.”
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And while the NBA season draws to a close, with the Phoenix Suns set to face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks in the Finals, Morant has no dog in the fight.
His laser focus will not allow it.
“My only favourite is my team. We’re not in it so I’m not rooting for nobody.
“I do have some people I’m cool with, I wish the best for them and hope that they achieve whatever they want to achieve.
“But if I’m not there I don’t have any favourite or want anybody to win.”
Ja Morant was speaking exclusively around the premiere of his new documentary ‘Promiseland’ which charts his unique journey from small-town kid to the second overall pick in the NBA Draft and rise to stardom