Nike Ja 1

The Nike Ja 1 is the debut signature shoe for American professional basketball player, Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant. Unveiled on Christmas Day 2022 in a game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, the sneaker later debuted in April 2023.

In his first three years in the NBA, Ja Morant wore over a dozen different basketball sneakers–including the Air Jordan 1 and Nike Kyrie 4. The South Carolina native took a liking to Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 4 and Kobe Bryant’s Nike Kobe 6 for their low-to-the-ground tooling setup and short collar. Unsurprisingly, Morant’s inaugural signature model bears semblance to both silhouettes in the aforementioned aspects, while continuing to reevaluate the future of the brand’s basketball category.

Touted as the Swoosh’s “first Gen Z signature athlete,” Morant defies historic expectations had of point guards: Standing at 6′2″, the former Murray State Racer showcases a bold, fearless style of play that evolves the game of basketball and modernizes its culture as it enables highlight reels and back-and-forths on social media. Nike’s Ja 1 combines “G12’s” authenticity with a performance-driven design for a signature shoe sure to fill in the void left behind by Kyrie Irving, whom parted ways with the brand in early December 2022.

Unveiled in a “Day One” style, the sneaker was in the works for more than two years, suggesting Nike planned a signature design for Morant since signing him to a multi-year endorsement deal ahead of the NBA Draft in 2019. The model features a breathable mesh construction at its base that couples with fuse material and leather overlays to create a ride that’s equal parts breathable and durable. Ja Morant’s official logo–”JA” above a chevron–lands on the tongue label, nodding to the guard’s “verticality, speed, and sharpness.” The once overlooked and under-recruited college player got his “Beneath No One” motto onto the shoe; his daughter’s name, “Kaari,” is also stamped on the side of the Ja 1. Tech-wise, the Zoom Air units enclosed underfoot works with a herringbone-patterned traction to enable the type of dunks, cuts, and crossovers essential to Morant’s “box-office” style of play.

The Nike Ja 1 released at retailers in full family sizing on April 19th, 2023, with Adult sizes priced at $110 USD.

Nike Ja 1

The Nike Ja 1 “Christmas” Arrives This Holiday Season

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By Jared Ebanks December 6, 2023
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Ja Morant’s Old Tweet Resurfaces On This Nike Ja 1 Inspired By Working For The Check

Despite coming under fire for his less than stellar conduct, Ja Morant continues to be employed by the Swoosh. They’ve even presented him with a...

By Sneaker News November 2, 2023
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Here’s A Look At The Nike JA 1 “Chinese New Year”

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By Jared Ebanks October 30, 2023
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Ranking The Debut Signature Shoes For The 2023-2024 NBA Season

The signature basketball ecosystem is in the midst of a changing of the guard. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry; all once in the...

By Jared Ebanks October 24, 2023
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Nike Prepares The JA 1 For A Cookout

Although typically a summer-time activity, Nike is firing up the grill with this special “Cookout” colorway of the Nike JA 1 signature shoe. Presumably inspired...

By Sneaker News October 20, 2023
2797

The Ja 1 “Day One” Releases On October 13th

Ja Morant and the Swoosh are moving forward with their partnership, teasing more styles of the Nike Ja 1. Ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season,...

By Jovani Hernandez October 3, 2023
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Nike Replaces “Ducking No Smoke” On Ja Morant’s Upcoming Sneaker Release

Updated September 27th, 2023: Nike has officially changed the upcoming Ja 1 by covering the “We Ain’t Ducking No Smoke” with Ja’s signature. — In...

By Jared Ebanks September 25, 2023
11929

The Nike Ja 1 “Guava Ice” Arrives Soon

Coinciding with his second All-Star appearance, Ja Morant’s first signature silhouette has explored the near entirety of the Pantone wheel since the model’s release in...

By Jared Ebanks September 19, 2023
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Nike Basketball Unveils Massive Holiday 2023 Collection

With basketball competition at an all-time high, Nike is ready to celebrate the global game with the return of the World Basketball Festival in New...

By Sneaker News September 14, 2023
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