History of Ja Morant in Timeline
Temetrius Jamel "Ja" Morant is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Known for his explosive athleticism and playmaking abilities, Morant played college basketball at Murray State University, earning consensus first-team All-American honors in 2019. He was drafted second overall by the Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA draft and quickly established himself as a key player, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2020. Morant has led the Grizzlies to playoff contention, showcasing his scoring, passing, and rebounding skills.
August 10, 1999: Ja Morant's Birth
On August 10, 1999, Temetrius Jamel Morant, later known as Ja Morant, was born.
February 2007: Mike Miller's Grizzlies Record
In February 2007, Mike Miller set the record for most points in a game by a Grizzlies player. This record was later broken by Ja Morant in February 2022.
2012: Triple-Double in NCAA Tournament
On March 21, 2019, Ja Morant became the eighth player to officially record a triple-double in the history of the NCAA tournament, and the first player since Draymond Green in 2012.
July 2016: Discovered by Murray State
In July 2016, Ja Morant was accidentally discovered by Murray State's assistant coach James Kane while playing a three-on-three game in an auxiliary gym.
September 3, 2016: Committed to Murray State
On September 3, 2016, Ja Morant committed to playing for Murray State during dinner at head coach Matt McMahon's house.
November 10, 2017: Murray State Debut
On November 10, 2017, Ja Morant debuted for Murray State, scoring 7 points and providing a team-high 11 assists in a 118-61 victory over Brescia University.
December 12, 2017: First Career Double-Double
On December 12, 2017, Ja Morant recorded his first career double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 69–55 loss to Saint Louis.
2017: Unranked Recruit
In 2017, Ja Morant was not ranked by recruiting services and only received one high major NCAA Division I offer from South Carolina.
February 1, 2018: Season-High Points
On February 1, 2018, Ja Morant scored a season-high 23 points against Southeast Missouri State.
November 24, 2018: First Multiple Triple-Doubles
On November 24, 2018, Ja Morant posted 29 points, a season-high 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 77–66 win over Missouri State, becoming the first Murray State player to ever record multiple triple-doubles.
December 2018: Projected Top-Five NBA Draft Selection
By December 2018, Ja Morant was almost unanimously projected as a top-five selection in the 2019 NBA draft.
2018: AAU Teammate with Zion Williamson
In 2018, Ja Morant was teammates with Zion Williamson on the South Carolina Hornets in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit.
2018: Chris Paul's Elite Guard Camp
In the summer of 2018, Ja Morant was invited to Chris Paul's Elite Guard Camp.
January 10, 2019: Wooden Award Watch List and Assist Record
On January 10, 2019, Ja Morant was named to the midseason top 25 watch list for the John R. Wooden Award and broke the school record for most assists in a single game, with 18, against UT Martin.
July 2, 2019: Signed with the Grizzlies
On July 2, 2019, Ja Morant signed a four-year contract worth $39.6 million with the Memphis Grizzlies.
August 7, 2019: Morant's Daughter Born
On August 7, 2019, Ja Morant became a father with the birth of his daughter.
October 23, 2019: NBA Debut
On October 23, 2019, Ja Morant made his NBA debut for the Memphis Grizzlies in a game against the Miami Heat, scoring 14 points.
2019: Declared for the NBA Draft
Following Murray State's loss in the 2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Ja Morant announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2019 NBA draft.
2019: All-American Honors
In 2019, Ja Morant was a consensus first-team All-American as a sophomore playing college basketball for the Murray State Racers.
2019: Morant NBA Rookie of the Year
In 2019, Ja Morant was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
2019: Drafted by the Grizzlies
In 2019, Ja Morant was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the second overall pick in the NBA draft.
February 9, 2020: First Career Triple-Double
On February 9, 2020, Ja Morant recorded his first career triple-double in a 106–99 win over the Washington Wizards.
December 23, 2020: Career-High 44 Points
On December 23, 2020, Ja Morant recorded a then career-high 44 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
2020: NBA Rookie of the Year
In 2020, Ja Morant was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.
May 21, 2021: Play-In Tournament Win
On May 21, 2021, in the play-in tournament, Ja Morant recorded 35 points to lead Memphis to a 117–112 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors, securing a playoff berth.
June 1, 2021: Moneybagg Yo Releases "Rookie of the Year" in Honor of Morant
On June 1, 2021, rapper Moneybagg Yo released the song "Rookie of the Year" in celebration of Ja Morant being named NBA Rookie of the Year. The song highlights Morant's journey from a little-known college freshman to NBA Rookie of the Year.
June 3, 2021: Morant Releases Documentary "Promiseland"
On June 3, 2021, Ja Morant released a six-episode documentary titled "Promiseland," focusing on his first NBA season.
October 20, 2021: Season Opener Performance
On October 20, 2021, in the Grizzlies' season opener, Ja Morant recorded 37 points in a 132–121 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
April 21, 2022: First Postseason Triple-Double
On April 21, 2022, during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Ja Morant posted his first postseason triple-double in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
July 6, 2022: Morant Signs Five-Year Extension with Grizzlies
On July 6, 2022, Ja Morant signed a five-year contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies, guaranteeing him $193 million, which could increase to $231 million if he makes an All-NBA team.
September 2022: Morant Named Defendant in Lawsuit Over Alleged Altercation
In September 2022, Ja Morant was named a defendant in a lawsuit filed in Shelby County, Tennessee, accused of punching a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at his home in July of that year. Morant claimed self-defense. A representative for the Shelby County district attorney's office stated there was not enough evidence to proceed with a case.
2022: Lawsuit Over Punching Incident
In 2022, Ja Morant was involved in a lawsuit over a punching incident.
2022: NBA All-Star and Most Improved Player
In 2022, Ja Morant was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as a starter, won the NBA Most Improved Player Award and was selected to his first All-NBA Team.
January 29, 2023: Morant Achieves Seventh Career Triple-Double
On January 29, 2023, Ja Morant recorded his seventh career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a 112–100 victory over the Indiana Pacers, becoming the first player in Grizzlies history to achieve at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a single game.
February 5, 2023: Report Details Altercation Involving Morant's Associates and Indiana Pacers
On February 5, 2023, a report by The Athletic detailed an altercation that occurred on January 29 between associates of Ja Morant and members of the Indiana Pacers, including a verbal exchange between Morant's father and Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and a physical confrontation averted by Pacers guard Chris Duarte and forward James Johnson.
March 1, 2023: Report Details Incident Involving Morant and Gun
On March 1, 2023, The Washington Post released a report detailing an incident where Ja Morant allegedly emerged from his house with a gun tucked in his waistband after an altercation with a 17-year-old. The report also described a prior incident at a mall where Morant allegedly threatened a head of security, leading to a police report.
March 4, 2023: NBA Investigates Morant after Gun Display on Instagram Live
On March 4, 2023, the NBA launched an investigation into Ja Morant after an Instagram Live video surfaced showing him displaying a gun at a Colorado nightclub. The Grizzlies announced Morant would be away from the team indefinitely, and Morant stated he would seek resources to manage his well-being. Nike also released a statement of support. Morant deactivated his Instagram and Twitter accounts and reportedly entered a counseling program in Florida.
December 19, 2023: Morant Returns from Suspension with Game-Winning Shot
On December 19, 2023, Ja Morant made his return from suspension, scoring 27 of his 34 points in the second half and hitting the game-winning shot in a 115–113 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.
January 8, 2024: Morant to Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
On January 8, 2024, it was reported that Ja Morant would undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery after sustaining a subluxation during team practice, concluding his season after only nine games.
March 28, 2025: Grizzlies Fire Coach Taylor Jenkins
On March 28, 2025, the Grizzlies fired coach Taylor Jenkins, who had been Ja Morant's only head coach during his tenure with the team, with only nine games remaining in the 2024–25 regular season. This dismissal led to frustrations from team members regarding changes in the team's dynamic.
April 1, 2025: Morant Issues Warning for Gun-Aiming Gestures
On April 1, 2025, Ja Morant and Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield made gun-aiming gestures at one another, leading to a league investigation. While the league determined the gestures were not violent, Morant and Hield were issued warnings about their conduct. Subsequently, Morant was fined $75,000 for repeating the gestures in a following game on April 3, disregarding the warning.
2025: Morant Awarded Damages from The Wing Guru
In 2025, Ja Morant was awarded $300,000 in damages from The Wing Guru, a restaurant chain, due to breach of contract.
2025: Judge Rules Morant Acted in Self-Defense
In 2025, a judge determined that Ja Morant was acting in self-defense and dismissed the 2022 lawsuit related to the punching incident, resolving the legal challenge.
January 21, 2026: Morant Suffers UCL Sprain, Misses Remainder of Season
On January 21, 2026, Ja Morant suffered a UCL sprain in his left elbow during a game against the Atlanta Hawks, leading to him missing the remainder of the season. This followed weeks of missed games due to calf soreness. For the abbreviated season, he averaged 19.5 points per game.
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