Andrew Rizzo Trophies are cool and all, but Ja Morant got something extra special after taking home NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2020. Paying tribute to the young Grizzlies star, the Memphis Zoo welcomed a baby giraffe into the world and named him “Ja Raffe,” later getting a visit from Morant himself. The animal has since been traded to a Utah zoo, but Ja has kept him in his heart through his signature shoe line, here unveiling a spotted Nike Ja 3 “Ja Raffe” on his Instagram story.
The “Ja Raffe” theme has appeared on both the Nike Ja 1 and Ja 2, both of which wound up as Player Exclusives. The Nike Ja 3 adopts a nearly identical theme, taking after giraffes with brown spots over a beige base. The upper logo detailing is kept clear to let the pattern take center stage, save for beige paint on the “A” lettering. The midsole comes in brown, while pink Swooshes inspired by giraffe tongues cap off the design.
It remains to be seen whether the Nike Ja 3 “Ja Raffe” will release or if the sneaker is another Player Exclusive. Rest assured we’ll circle back when more info comes to light.
