16d; 0:24. He had plans to turn professional but decided not to pursue it when his wife, Jamie, got pregnant with Ja. The Murray State star is quietly making a name for himself and will soon be in an NBA city near you", "Mid-major to millions: Ja Morant's life is changing quickly", "How Ja Morant went from an unranked player in high school to the likely No. During the game, Morant set school records for career assists and single-season points. Hoop genes: Temetrius Jamel Ja Morant was born Aug. 10, 1999 in Dalzell, South Carolina. Similarly, He has a younger sister. Like when he publicly supported his son's case to go first overall ahead of Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA Draft. Per another profile by the Murray State News, Tee narrowly missed playing in the NBA after his career at Claflin. [41] One day later, he recorded 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in a 7765 upset victory over the Belmont Bruins, who were playing without injured first team All-OVC center Nick Muszynski, for the OVC Tournament title. Morant started playing basketball in high school as a point guard, he held the same position in his college team, and Ja Morant's position in the Memphis Grizzlies team is also a point guard. Though none of their children have gotten married, Tee and Jamie are already enjoying the pecks of being grandparents. We must also acknowledge the role Tee played when Ja Morant couldnt get a team to recruit him despite posting notable statistics. During his formative years, he also played basketball but couldn't make it to the big leagues, which he has achieved through his . Well, you weren't the only one. Basically, Tee isnt the only person with an incredibly high opinion of his sons ability. By analyzing Ja Morant you will be able t. II Claflin University. Here are . What he did out here proves that hes the best player in the country. pic.twitter.com/6Rj7bdCSjM. [14] Morant and Murray State advanced to the NCAA Tournament his freshman season after capturing an OVC Championship in a 6851 win over Belmont. Tee also came over, but security got a hold of everyone and started separating them. Powered by. However, he found his perfect fit at Murray State, falling in love with the schools tight-knit community during his visit. [93] On June 1, 2021, rapper Moneybagg Yo released the song "Rookie of the Year" in celebration of Morant being named NBA Rookie of the Year. I wanted him to focus on his dream. Ja Morant's father, Tee, is a man below 50 but full of strength and agility with which he mentored Ja during his early days in the field of play. Tee is also a self-acclaimed basketball train. Towns. After joining free agency camps and playing internationally, he narrowly missed playing in the NBA after his career at Claflin. And while he did try to get in between Shannon Sharpe's verbal altercation with Steven Adams during a recent stop at Crypto.com Arena. Jas younger sister is now involved with varsity basketball, playing for Houston High School. Regardless of his stunning athleticism, his high-flying dunks and NBA All-Star game future, the Memphis Grizzlies point guard heard instead was "you're trash", "you're overrated", and "you suck." Ja Morant: Struggles from floor. Tee Morant helped Ja learn hops by jumping daily on 20-inch-thick tractor tires. Smalley, who lives in Appling, Georgia, would sometimes get texts from Ja asking for prayer or a simple scripture to get him through his day. Tee Morant is married to Jamie Morant, a high school point guard, and a college softball player. Ja Morant's mother was a point guard in high school and a softball player in college. Fantasy Men's Basketball. Again, the age of their first child, Ja Morant, who is already well into his twenties, is another indication that the duos relationship has endured for more than twenty years and is still counting. [93] On June 3, Morant released a six-episode documentary, Promiseland, focusing on his first NBA season. On Sunday, Tee was seen hugging Steph Curry after his son Ja missed a potential game-winning layup in the Grizzlies loss. While the direct emotional support came from the parents, Ja sought spiritual guidance from Mama Lin. After Ja Morant & Zion Williamson were drafted first and second in 2019, the pair wound up sharing the floor as teammates once again in the NBA. 1-seeded Utah Jazz and saw Morant score a franchise playoff-record 47 points in a Game 2 loss. In Friday's game between the LA Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, Tee leveled up and got into it with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe. And right on cue, Tee said Ja played like trash in an impromptu post-game interview of his own. He closed his sophomore campaign averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. 3 player overall behind Dukes Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett. "Ja played like trash," Morant's dad said of his son when asked how he played in the series. She was the point guard for her schools basketball team, and her quest to try out another sport led the Afro-Americans to choose softball. Her name is Teniya Morant. What Position Did JA Morant Play? He had a breakout sophomore season where he won OVC Player of the Year and led the NCAA in assists. The talented point guard continued with her sports activities in college, playing both basketball and softball. As an assistant coach at Crestwood High, he coached a team consisting of Jas father Tee, as well as NBA great Ray Allen. He went on to play basketball for Claflin University, where he was also a high school teammate. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 14:09, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, United States Basketball Writers Association, "Ja Morant, Murray State's High-Flying Star, Is No Longer College Hoops's Best Kept Secret", "MikeCheck: Morant makes dominant first impression at Chicago's NBA Lottery, Combine", "Ja Morant: Point God from the back road", "Who's Ja Morant? His interactions with Karl Towns Sr., the father of Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, were a mainstay of the first-round playoff series broadcasts. As a sophomore, Morants draft stock soared as he averaged 24.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 10 apg, which led the nation. A Zion connection: The summer before Morant was a sophomore in high school (and when Zion Williamson was a freshman), they played on a regional team called the South Carolina Hornets. His athleticism often draws comparisons to Russell Westbrook, who Morant said is his favorite player because Westbrook is often overlooked, just like he was by college recruiters in high school. Ja's father, Tee Morant, was a high school teammate of Ray Allen. He was one of two players in Division I with 400 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists (joining Marshalls Jon Elmore). [82] The deal includes $193 million of guaranteed money, increasing to $231 million contingent upon his selection to an All-NBA team. Don't miss a story! In September 2016, Morant officially committed to the Murray State University Racers. [11][12][13] His only high major NCAA Division I offer came from South Carolina. Besides that, Tee's son, Ja, has amassed a massive amount of money from his professional basketball career. July 20, 2020. A die hard Kobe Bryant fan, who follows his mamba mentality. LeBron James reacts to Shannon Sharpe spat with Ja Morant's father: 'Got his back' Ja Morant, who plays basketball as if he is on a trampoline, might bounce so high that his ceiling is . Morant became the fifth-youngest player in NBA history to lead a playoff team in both points and assists in a game. [86] On December 7, Morant put up his sixth career triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists In a 123102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just trying to wrap up the night & was not prepared for Tee Morant to ask me to do an interview. Everything is really just a credit to him. Tee, who likened the incident to blatant heckling, saw to it that the guys did not go unpunished for their insolence. He was born in Dalzell, South Carolina. The singer attended the Game 5 matchupof the Grizzlies/Wolves series in Memphis, where he sat next to Tee, to debunk the rumors himself. Tee is aged between 32-Year-Old, as his exact date of birth, is not known. It was the first postseason triple-double in Grizzlies franchise history. Both Allen and Tee Morant were mentored by Jas high school coach Dwayne Edwards. [19] He posted his first triple-double on December 28, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in an 8052 win over Eastern Illinois. [88] On February 2, Morant was named to his second NBA All-Star Game as a reserve guard for the Western Conference. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It should also be noted that no one was ejected from the game or from the arena. Morant was born in Dalzell, South Carolina,[2] to parents, Tee and Jamie Morant. Tee Morant played basketball in his college days and was a teammate of NBA Legend Ray Allen. According to Donovan, the smile that appears on the youngsters face on always seeing his papa rooting for him is a holistic moment for any kid. [75], On April 21, 2022, during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Morant posted 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a 10495 Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Morant has been having a breakout season as an NBA star. Here are 22 facts to celebrate his 22nd birthday. He was named to his first NBA All Star Game in 2022 as a starter, and won the NBA Most Improved Player Award at the conclusion of the season, Morant was also selected to his first All-NBA Team in 2022. [14] He was accidentally discovered by mid-major program Murray State of the OVC in July 2016, when assistant coach James Kane attended a camp hoping to see a player who was joining his team. Now, he is the head man at Crestview High on the Carolina coastal town of Sumter. Tees parenting skills so impressed American pro basketball player Donovan Mitchell Jr. who gave him accolades for bringing up Ja to be an impressive young man. In his second season at Murray State University, the 22-year-old became the first player in NCAA history to average 20 or more points and 10 or more assists per game. Had to See What the Hype was about ?? Ja Morant is a professional basketball player. Currently, he has a deal of $39,619,840 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020. [3] He grew from 5ft 9in (1.75m) to 6ft 0in (1.83m) in his first three years with the team. [91], Morant has a daughter who was born in 2019. 1. The 23-year-old Grizzlies star earned a reputation as a gym rat during his prep career. Ja Morant grew up in South Carolina and attended high school at Crestwood High School. Faced with that kind of situation, there werent many career choices for the basketball hopeful to follow, and at the end of the day, he found himself working in a barbers shop. [24] He became the seventh freshman in 25 years to accumulate 150 assists, 150 rebounds, and 10 blocks while shooting at least 42 percent from the field. [78][79] On May 7, Morant injured his right knee in game 3 of the series and Memphis would go on to lose in 6 games. [15] On September 3, 2016, Morant committed to playing for Murray State during dinner at McMahon's house. Ja Morant is one of the most athletic NBA players. In the. Then, he quit his basketball career and stayed at home. [67] On February 16, Morant tied his then career high with 44 points, including a career high 20 points in the first quarter, grabbed 5 rebounds and delivered 11 assists in a 123119 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers. Ja Morant made $9,603,360 in 2022. Born Temetrius Jamel Morant, he plays for the Memphis Grizzlies team of the NBA. He attended Hillcrest High School in Dalzell, South Carolina, where he was teammates with Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and went on to play college basketball at Claflin University -- a HBCU located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. July 7, 2021 by Steve DelVecchio Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is one of the best young players in the NBA, and just about anyone who follows basketball could tell you that. He is a tall man, standing at 6 feet 3 inches. ESPN video of Shannon and the Grizz + Tee Morant pic . Tee Morant became a figure in his own right during the 2022 NBA postseason. From his upbringing to being Gigi Bryant's favorite player, here's some things to know about the Hawks star. According to Edwards, Ja has some great work ethics that set him apart from others. While growing up, the young lad enjoyed playing basketball with his sister, Teniya Morant, in the backyard. He scored 18 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. (Photo: SAM OWENS/ COURIER & PRESS)Tee Morant (middle) celebrating with his son Ja (left) after Murray State won the OVC Tournament title. [60] The Grizzlies were eliminated, losing the series in five games. He just knows what it takes, Ja said of his dad. He was not highly recruited out of high school but he caught the attention of Murray State head coach Matt McMahon while playing in a summer league game. Ja said Tee ran from the smoke as he would never be able to play him 1-on-1 again. The young man was distraught and had to lean on his parents strength and also drew inspiration from his grandma, Mama Lin. [3] He could not dunk until he was a senior. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. It is also unknown if she is an only child or grew up with siblings. Morant joined Pau Gasol as the lone ROY winners in franchise history and was a three-time Rookie of the Month an honor last earned by Gasol as well. When it comes to Morant's parents, he was born to Tee Morant and Jamie Morant. What is Ja Morant's net worth? However he has always been supportive of his son's basketball career. He went on to play on the Amateur Athletic Union . [1], Morant trained in his backyard with his father, Tee Morant, who taught him step-back jump shots and bought tractor tires for him to practice jumping with a soft landing. While the NBA point guard was dating KK Dixon, he sired a daughter with the lady. [33] He broke the OVC record for most consecutive free throws made in a game, and he became the tenth player in Murray State history to record a 40-point game. Morant finished Wednesday's 117-111 victory over Utah with 20 points (8-26 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 3-8 FT), eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals across 34 minutes. Point Guard. Also, as a sophomore, Morant became the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists per game for a single season. He is always witnessed to be catching the action in Grizzlies home games and has recently been targeted for getting more screen time than he deserves. [36], At the end of the regular season, he was named OVC Player of the Year and first-team All-OVC, while leading the NCAA Division I in assists. ! Lakers star LeBron James hypes Liverpools semi-final triumph over Villarreal in Champions League. Her days in high school were quite eventful as Jamie was a two sports stand-out. No Ja Morant's father Jamie did not play basketball. Ja Morant was the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year who has taken the National Basketball Association by storm. He constantly reminded him that cream would always rise to the top. Jamie was quick to remind him he was beneath no one, a phrase Morant has tattooed on his left arm. Tee did his best to console his son. A back-and-forth between Sharpe and Brooks resulted in the majority of the Grizzlies roster being involved, as well as Ja Morant's father, Tee. Ja Morant is a 6'3 170-pound point guard. Ja Morant is a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. After the Memphis Grizzlies eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, Tee called his son's performances throughout the series trash. Racing at Murray State: Morant started all 32 games as a freshman, averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in 2017-18. As Ja is still playing professionally, we can say that his net value will increase in the coming years. Would love your thoughts, please comment. He mentions this when talking about the tight-knit Morant family, and how Jas grandmother, Linda Mama Lin Smalley, particularly supports him. Where Is Beth Thomas of The Child of Rage Now? That Tee is Ja Morants first hater is not an indication that father and son have a strained relationship. Murray State sophomore point guard Ja Morant's rise in the past month is unlike anything mid-major college basketball has seen in a long time. He put Ja under the instruction of his high school coach Dwayne Edwards, who coached him at Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina. He has a sister who is also a basketball player. Ja Morant's father's name is Tee Morant who was a basketball player by profession. Tee Morant, Memphis Grizzlies' Point guard Ja Morant's father, says he has only missed one of Jas basketball games since he was six years old. Daughter Dance Like Father Basketball !! NBA Fans are fuming about various antics and comments Tee Morant is sharing during the game and at the end of the game. [69][70] On February 28, Morant bested this total, scoring a career-high 52 points, on an efficient 22-of-30 shooting, including 4-4 from beyond the arc, in a 118105 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Ja isnt the only child of Tee and Jamie as the NBA player soon became a brother to Teniya Morant, the couples only daughter. He scored the last 15 points for Memphis and also became just the third player in NBA playoffs history to have multiple 45-point games before turning 23 years old, joining Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Murray State's Ja Morant", "Court Report: The real story of Ja Morant and Zion Williamson playing on the same AAU team", "2019 Draft Primer: Ja Morant, The Ultimate Sleeper", "Once a little-known prospect, Morant has everyone's attention now", "From Tee to Ja: Morant finishing what his father started", "Racers Lockdown Brescia - Hawkins On Fire With 28 Points", "Racers Can't Make Fast Start Last At Saint Louis", "Morant's Triple-Double Leads Racers Past EIU", "55-Point Second Half Leads Racers To 4th Straight Win", "Men's Basketball vs West Virginia on 3/16/2018 - Box Score", "Next task for the Aces? But with the 22-year-old Morant dropping game-high points with efficiency from the field and range, there is someone in his family who has been behind his basketball inspiration and is still the biggest critic of him. What Tee couldnt accomplish himself, he passed down to his son, Ja Morant. Tee was a talented enough basketball player to get some looks at NBA free agency camps and played professionally overseas, but he ended his playing career when his wife, Jamie Morant, had Ja in 1999. Also Read: When Michael Jordan reportedly smoked a cigar before an elimination game against the Washington Bullets. Her name is Teniya Morant. Ja took the court for warm-ups about 45 minutes before Game 3 began. He made it a point to outwork everyone in practice, then, he would go home and work out with Tee. While his team lost in the first round in 2018 to West Virginia, Morant led the Racers to the second round in 2019 after posting the ninth triple-double in tourney history. 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