The Grizzlies' superstar point guard is proving his stardom as he is currently on tour with Nike for a “Make Them Watch” campaign to promote his upcoming "Ja 3" shoes, scheduled to be released in the fall. After beginning the tour in his home state of South Carolina for the EYBL Peach Jam, followed by a trip to New York, he made his way to China for six days from July 25th to July 30th.
As is typically the case with Ja Morant when he is on the court, more electrifying highlights were made while in China, including another dunk that has fans craving more in a specific NBA All-Star weekend event. Morant has expressed disinterest in participating in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in the past, but gave a glimmer of hope during the past dunk contest.
As Morant continues to show off flashy dunks on several different platforms, the NBA must take action to ensure he seriously considers entering their contest.
Morant is box office and continues to prove it
The NBA is in its dead period as free agency has died down and the summer league has ended. Players are vacationing and revamping their bodies to get prepared for training camp, which begins at the end of September for nearly every team.
The dead period means fans will be enamored by any little footage of workout videos or highlights they see, and Ja Morant delivered on the last weekend in July. "I feel like a happy Ja is a scary Ja for a lot of people" is a phrase Morant said ahead of last season, and he appears that way following the dunk that electrified the crowd in China. The dunk was so impressive that he had the crowd chanting "We want Ja" by the end of the event.
seeing 12 have this much fun in china is so heartwarming.
— myke (@NBAMyke) July 26, 2025
“we want ja” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/YPoOUtO6u2
This offseason feels different for Morant following the social media gun incident that led to his 25-game suspension in 2023, and rehabbing from a surgically repaired torn labrum last offseason. The hip pointer injury that ended his season in April didn't linger long into the offseason, so he has the opportunity to focus on his business ventures while keeping himself in playing shape this time around.
The NBA needs a star of Ja Morant's caliber in the Slam Dunk Contest, and he somewhat expressed interest in February this year. Seeing how he electrifies not only NBA fans, but fans globally, should be enough for the NBA to implement an incentive to increase the likelihood that someone of Morant's status would enter the contest.