Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant responds to signature shoe rumor

Reports have surfaced that a Ja Morant Nike signature basketball shoe bearing the Memphis Grizzlies star’s name is in the works and could be released in 2023.

The rumor seems to have picked up steam after Nice Kicks (a popular and verified Twitter account with more than 1.3 million followers), shared a report from Sole Retriever (a sneaker release watchdog, of sorts).

The report suggests that the “Nike Ja 1” will be released during Summer 2023.

However, Sole Retriever never mentions their source nor attributes it to anyone seeking anonymity, such as an industry insider or someone at Nike involved in the process.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant acknowledged signature shoe rumor

While everyone was running with the unfounded reports, Morant took to social media to dispel the rumors about his signature shoe, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“Ya’ll know something I don’t,” Morant wrote in the comments section of the Nice Kicks Instagram post.

His comment is no longer there, indicating he deleted it; but, not before some quick-thinking internet sleuths captured screenshots.

So what’s going on here?

We’ve been anticipating a signature shoe for Morant for some time now. Even, our Zane Harris wrote about it recently.

Perhaps things really are in the works, but Morant wants to control the narrative and roll things out in his own way. He’s been releasing documentary-style episodes on his YouTube channel during the offseason— maybe he wants to be able to do the unveiling himself or take his viewers behind the scenes of the process.

Whatever is happening, fans are buzzing about the Memphis Grizzlies superstar and how deserving he is of his own signature shoe. The former Murray State standout has taken the league by storm since arriving in 2019.

Morant’s 27.4 PPG, 6.7 APG, and 5.7 RPG in 2021-22 helped the Memphis Grizzlies finish with the second-best record in the NBA last season and supplied the internet with countless highlight reels and viral moments throughout the season.

He has one of the best-selling jerseys in the league and could soon have one of the best-selling sneakers in the NBA once his rumored shoe finally comes to fruition.