The Nike Ja 3 Delves Into Mismatched “Knicks” Colors

Enough to make a Memphian jealous.

Matt Varga March 31, 2026

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The days of color matching your shoes exactly to your on-court wear are far in the past, yet still, no athlete wants to represent a rival squad with their footwear. That comes with one big exception. Madison Square Garden’s status as the “Mecca” of pro basketball is unassailable, a fact acknowledged by so many of the game’s greats and represented in a number of their signature rosters, from the Air Jordan 1 “Knicks” to various LeBron drops over the years.

Ja Morant’s explosive playstyle and the fervent atmospheres fostered on the Knicks home court make for a no-brainer version of the Ja 3, now coming to light with this alternating Grade School edition. Purple interplay on the right shoe keeps things interesting, but the orange/blue mismatch on either shoe clearly stamps this as Knicks-approved at the very least, particularly effective with the Ja branding that cuts through “Blue Crystal” and “Turf Orange” on either upper.

It remains to be seen whether the Nike Ja 3 “Knicks” will reveal adult sizing; for now, we’re regarding this as a Grade School exclusive pair. Expect this pair to hit the usual Nike channels in the coming weeks, commanding a $102 retail price. Watch our Sneaker Release Dates page for more updates on this colorway and all the most notable product coming down the line.

WHERE TO BUY

Grade School Nike Ja 3

SKU: IO9418-400

RETAIL PRICE: $102

RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2026

US 05/01/2026 Friday

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.