Ja Morant

Ja Morant is a guard for the Portland Trail Blazers whose speed, creativity and above-the-rim finishing made him one of the NBA's most dynamic playmakers. Born Temetrius Jamel Morant on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, he developed at Crestwood High School before emerging at Murray State. As a sophomore in 2018-19, Morant became the first Division I men's player to average at least 20 points and 10 assists in a season and recorded a triple-double in the NCAA Tournament.

Memphis selected Morant with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He won Rookie of the Year in 2020, earned Most Improved Player and All-NBA Second Team honors in 2022, and became a two-time All-Star while leading the Grizzlies back to the playoffs. His downhill pressure, passing vision and late-game shot creation defined Memphis's rise, though suspensions and injuries interrupted portions of his later seasons with the franchise.

Portland acquired Morant from Memphis on June 29, 2026, in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. In his Trail Blazers debut, he recorded 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals while making six of eight shots. The trade gives Portland an established lead guard to organize its young roster, while Morant begins a new chapter with two fully guaranteed seasons remaining on his contract.

Morant is playing under the five-year, $197,230,450 designated rookie maximum extension he signed with Memphis in July 2022. The fully guaranteed contract began in 2023-24 and runs through 2027-28, carrying an average annual value of $39,446,090. Portland assumed the remaining terms when it acquired him in June 2026.

Morant is scheduled to earn $42,166,510 in 2026-27 and $44,886,930 in 2027-28. The contract contains no player or team option, putting him on track to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028.

Designated rookie maximum extension originally signed with Memphis using Bird rights and later transferred to Portland in the June 2026 trade. The contract is fully guaranteed and has no reported player or team option.