Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ja Morant’s Net Worth?
Ja Morant, a prominent figure in professional basketball, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $50 million as of February 2025. This valuation is primarily attributed to his NBA contracts, lucrative endorsement deals, and strategic investments made throughout his burgeoning career.
Earnings and Contractual Agreements
Morant’s financial success is heavily influenced by his NBA contracts with the Memphis Grizzlies. Initially, after being drafted as the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, he signed a two-year contract worth $17.8 million. This initial contract provided a solid foundation for his earnings in the early stages of his professional career.
In 2021, Morant secured a significant four-year contract extension with the Grizzlies, amounting to $39.6 million. Crucially, this contract was fully guaranteed, providing financial security and stability for Morant. The average annual value of this extension was approximately $9.9 million per year.
The most substantial contract of Morant’s career to date came in September 2022. He signed a five-year maximum rookie contract extension with the Grizzlies, potentially worth up to $193 million. This deal could escalate to $231 million if Morant achieves certain performance-based milestones, such as making the All-NBA team. This contract significantly boosted his average annual salary to $38.6 million.
Endorsement Deals and Related Controversies
Morant’s marketability led to several high-profile endorsement deals. One of the most notable was with Powerade, a multi-year deal that was announced on March 1, 2023. This contract was structured to pay Morant $10 million per year, positioning him as the face of the company. Powerade planned to invest $10 million in commercial, radio, and billboard advertising campaigns featuring Morant.
However, the Powerade deal faced immediate complications. Just three days after the announcement, a video surfaced showing Morant brandishing a gun on Instagram Live. This incident led Powerade to pause all advertising campaigns involving Morant, impacting the visibility and immediate financial benefits of the endorsement.
Morant also has a multi-year endorsement contract with Nike, signed in 2019, which initially paid him $12 million per year. Nike launched the “Hunger Ja 1” signature shoe in April 2023, making Morant one of only a few NBA players with a signature shoe deal. However, a second video in May 2023, again showing Morant with a gun, led Nike to remove his shoes from their website and app, impacting the long-term value of the endorsement.
Early Life and Educational Background
Temetrius Jamel Morant was born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, to Jamie and Tee Morant. His father, Tee, played basketball at Claflin University, while his mother, Jamie, was a point guard in high school before transitioning to softball in college. Morant has a younger sister, Teniya, who also plays basketball. His upbringing was deeply rooted in basketball, with extensive practice sessions in the backyard with his father, Tee. He honed his skills playing on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit with the South Carolina Hornets.
Morant attended Crestwood High School, where he played for the basketball team. By the time he completed his high school career, he had amassed 1,679 points, becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. He also earned South Carolina 3A All-State honors in his junior and senior years, showcasing his potential and talent early on.
College Career at Murray State University
In July 2016, Morant’s basketball career took a significant turn when he was discovered by the basketball program at Murray State University. Assistant coach James Kane noticed him playing in an auxiliary gym at a camp. Impressed by his abilities, Kane contacted head coach Matt McMahon, who subsequently offered Morant a scholarship.
Morant debuted for Murray State in November 2017, in a game against Brescia University, which they won 118-61. The following month, he recorded his first career double-double in a loss to Saint Louis University. Shortly after this, Morant achieved his first career triple-double in a victory over Eastern Illinois. His performance helped lead Murray State to the NCAA Tournament, where they were eventually defeated by West Virginia in the opening round.
His sophomore year at Murray State marked a period of significant growth. In the season opener against Wright State, he scored 26 points and provided 11 assists in a 74-53 victory. In a game against Alabama, he achieved a season-high of 38 points. In early 2019, Morant broke the Murray State record for the most assists in a single game, with 18. Shortly thereafter, he set a new career-high with 40 points in a win against SIU Edwardsville. Throughout the season, Morant continued to achieve milestones, setting new single-season school and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) records for assists. At the end of the regular season, Morant was named OVC Player of the Year. He led Murray State to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Florida State in the second round. Following this, Morant decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and declared for the NBA draft.
NBA Career with the Memphis Grizzlies
In the 2019 NBA draft, Morant was selected as the second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. His NBA debut occurred in October with a loss to the Miami Heat. The following month, he recorded his first NBA double-double and secured a game-winning layup in a victory over the Charlotte Hornets. In early 2020, Morant achieved his first NBA triple-double in a win against the Washington Wizards.
During his rookie season, Morant led all rookies in assists, averaging 7.1 per game. He also led rookies in total points, scoring 17.8 points per game, totaling 1,138 points overall. At the end of the season, Morant was named NBA Rookie of the Year, solidifying his status as a promising young player.
In his second season with the Grizzlies, Morant scored a career-high 44 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in late 2020. In the spring of 2021, he led the Grizzlies to an overtime victory against the Golden State Warriors, securing a postseason berth. He made his NBA playoff debut in an upset win over the top-seeded Utah Jazz. In Game 2, he scored 47 points and provided seven assists, though the Grizzlies lost 129-141. The team was eliminated from the tournament after five games.
During the 2021-22 season, Morant continued to perform at a high level. In February, he tied his career high of 44 points, and a week later, he set a new career high of 46 points. In the process, he broke the record for the most single-game points by a Grizzlies player. Just two days later, Morant surpassed this record, scoring 52 points in a win against the San Antonio Spurs.
Personal Life Details
In 2019, the same year he joined the NBA, Morant became a father to a daughter named Kaari. The following year, he released a six-episode documentary series titled “Promiseland,” which chronicled his rookie NBA season, offering fans insight into his life both on and off the court. The documentary provided a closer look at the challenges and triumphs Morant faced during his transition to the NBA.
Controversies and Suspensions
Morant has faced several controversies that have impacted his career and public image. On March 4, 2023, he appeared in an Instagram Live video appearing to brandish a gun in a Denver-area strip club. As a result, the NBA suspended Morant for eight games for conduct detrimental to the league.
In mid-May, another Instagram Live video surfaced showing Morant appearing to brandish a gun. He has also been accused of punching a teenage opponent in a pickup basketball game, intimidating a mall security guard, and being in an SUV that allegedly trained a laser toward the Indiana Pacers team bus. A member of the Pacers’ security team claimed that the laser was “100 percent a gun.” These incidents have raised concerns about Morant’s behavior and have led to further scrutiny of his actions.
