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Ja Morant: Latest News, Salary, Height, and What’s Next

Freddie Oliver Cooper Howard • 2026-07-12 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

Ja Morant has been one of the most electrifying players in the NBA, but his career has also been a rollercoaster of dazzling highs and troubling lows. From Rookie of the Year to multiple suspensions, his journey has kept fans and analysts guessing — in November 2025 the Grizzlies suspended him for one game after a sideline incident, and by June 2026 he was a Trail Blazer.

Height: 6’2″ · Weight: 174 lbs · Age: 26 (as of 2025) · Team: Memphis Grizzlies (until June 2026) · Position: Point Guard · Draft: 2019, 2nd overall

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Signed a 5-year, $197 million max extension in 2022 (Heavy)
  • Suspended 25 games for second firearm incident in 2023-24 (Front Office Sports)
  • Traded to Portland Trail Blazers in June 2026 (ESPN)
2What’s unclear
  • Long-term impact of his shoulder injury on performance
  • Whether he will maintain All-Star level production in Portland
  • How the Grizzlies’ front office dynamic affected the trade decision
  • Whether Morant can stay out of off-court trouble in Portland
3Timeline signal
  • Nov 2025: One-game suspension for conduct detrimental to team (The Athletic)
  • June 2026: Traded to Portland Trail Blazers (Action News 5)
4What’s next
  • Expected to join Portland for 2026-27 season (ESPN)
  • Will need to prove health and consistency after missing 79 games over three seasons (Hoops Rumors)
  • Trade return includes Jerami Grant and Kris Murray (Hoops Rumors)

8 key facts, one pattern: Ja Morant’s career is a story of immense talent repeatedly interrupted by off-court issues and injuries.

Fact Value
Height 6’2″
Weight 174 lbs
Age 26 (born August 10, 1999)
Team Memphis Grizzlies (until June 2026)
Position Point Guard
Draft 2019, 2nd overall
Salary $39.4 million (2024-25)
Rookie of the Year 2020

What is going on with Ja Morant?

What led to Ja Morant’s suspensions?

  • March 2023: Morant was suspended 8 games by the NBA for brandishing a firearm on Instagram Live (Front Office Sports).
  • June 2023: A second video led to a 25-game suspension to open the 2023-24 season (Front Office Sports).
  • November 2025: The Grizzlies suspended him for one game for conduct detrimental to the team after a confrontation with assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo (The Athletic).

When did Ja Morant return to the NBA?

Morant returned from the 25-game suspension during the 2023-24 season, playing 9 games before a shoulder injury ended his season. He returned to full action in the 2024-25 season, but played only 20 games in 2025-26 before being injured again and missing the trade deadline (Hoops Rumors).

What is the current status of his legal issues?

Morant has not faced criminal charges from the firearm incidents. The NBA’s investigations concluded with suspensions, and the league mandated counseling. No further legal proceedings have been reported (Front Office Sports).

The upshot

Morant’s off-court behavior has cost him over 40 games of suspension and millions in salary, but he avoided criminal charges. The pattern of incidents, however, eroded his standing with the league and eventually led to the Grizzlies pulling the trigger on a trade.

The implication: Morant’s career trajectory is now defined as much by his mistakes as his talent. For the Trail Blazers, the risk is whether he can stay out of trouble and on the court.

Why wasn’t Ja Morant traded?

Did the Grizzlies consider trading Ja Morant?

Publicly, the Grizzlies maintained they were committed to Morant through the 2024-25 season. General Manager Zach Kleiman stated the team had no intention of trading him (Front Office Sports). However, after the November 2025 suspension, trade speculation intensified, and teams began monitoring the situation.

What is Ja Morant’s trade value?

Morant’s trade value fluctuated with his availability. He played only 79 games over three seasons (2023-24 through 2025-26), and his max contract made him a difficult asset to move (Hoops Rumors). The eventual trade with Portland — sending Morant for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray — suggests the Grizzlies accepted a modest return to reset the roster.

How does his contract affect trade possibilities?

Morant’s 5-year, $197 million extension runs through 2027-28. That contract was a major factor in trade negotiations: teams were hesitant to absorb the salary and the risk of further off-court trouble. The Trail Blazers, with cap space and a willingness to gamble, emerged as the only suitor (ESPN).

The trade-off

The Grizzlies’ patience bought them time, but the November 2025 suspension made the relationship untenable. The trade was a reset for Memphis—a gamble for Portland, which now bears the risk of Morant’s contract and behavior.

What this means: The Grizzlies bet on Morant twice — with a max contract and with public support — but the third strike forced a move. For Portland, the reward is a potential superstar; the risk is a repeat of the Memphis saga.

What is Ja Morant’s salary?

How much is Ja Morant’s contract worth?

Ja Morant signed a 5-year, $197 million max extension in July 2022, which began in the 2023-24 season (Heavy). The contract is fully guaranteed.

What is Ja Morant’s annual salary?

For the 2024-25 season, his salary is $39.4 million. The annual figure increases slightly each year, reaching approximately $44 million by 2027-28 (Heavy).

When does Ja Morant’s contract expire?

The contract runs through the 2027-28 season. Morant will be a free agent in 2028, at age 29.

Bottom line: Ja Morant’s max contract is a double-edged sword. For the Trail Blazers: a potential franchise cornerstone at a premium price. For the Grizzlies: a salary burden they shed in the trade, but one that limited their return.

The salary structure will shape Portland’s roster flexibility for years to come.

Why is Ja Morant not as good anymore?

How has Ja Morant’s performance declined?

Morant’s scoring average dropped from 27.4 points per game in 2021-22 to 22.5 in 2024-25, and his three-point percentage fell from 34.4% to 28.3% in the same span (CBS Sports). His usage rate also declined, partly due to the Grizzlies’ evolving offense without him for long stretches.

What injuries has Ja Morant suffered?

In April 2023, Morant suffered a right shoulder injury that required surgery and ended his season. He missed the final 10 games of the 2023-24 regular season and the playoffs. In 2025-26, he was injured before the trade deadline and did not play again that season (Hoops Rumors).

How did suspensions affect his game?

Morant missed 33 games in 2023-24 due to suspension, plus the 9 games he played before injury. The lack of consistent playing time disrupted his rhythm and conditioning. Upon return, he was often on a minutes restriction and struggled to find his explosive form (The Athletic).

The pattern: Morant’s decline is a combination of lost development time, a shoulder injury that may have sapped his athleticism, and the mental toll of his off-court issues. Whether he can regain All-Star form in Portland is the central question of his next chapter.

How tall was Ja at 14?

How tall was Ja Morant at 13 years old?

At 13, Ja Morant was approximately 5’8″ to 5’10”, according to multiple reports. His height was unremarkable for a young basketball player, which is why he was not heavily recruited early in high school.

What is Ja Morant’s current height?

Morant is listed at 6’2″ by the NBA and on official team rosters (CBS Sports). He reached this height by late high school after a significant growth spurt.

When did Ja Morant have a growth spurt?

Morant grew from about 5’10” as a freshman to 6’2″ by his junior year of high school. The growth spurt, combined with his explosive athleticism, transformed him from an overlooked prospect into a Division I recruit and eventual NBA star.

Bottom line: Ja Morant’s height shows that late development can lead to elite levels. For young players who are shorter than their peers, his story is a reminder that early size isn’t everything. For scouts, it’s a case study in how late bloomers can become elite.

Morant’s late growth spurt is a key part of his unique athletic profile.

Timeline of key events

  • 2019 – Drafted 2nd overall by Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN)
  • 2020 – Won NBA Rookie of the Year (ESPN)
  • 2022 – First All-Star selection; signed 5-year, $197 million max extension (Heavy)
  • March 2023 – Suspended 8 games for first firearm incident (Front Office Sports)
  • June 2023 – Suspended 25 games for second firearm incident (Front Office Sports)
  • November 2025 – Suspended one game for conduct detrimental to team (The Athletic)
  • June 2026 – Traded to Portland Trail Blazers (Action News 5)

What we know vs. what we’re not sure about

Confirmed facts

  • Ja Morant is 6’2″ tall. (CBS Sports)
  • He signed a 5-year, $197 million max contract in 2022. (Heavy)
  • He was suspended twice for displaying firearms on social media. (Front Office Sports)
  • He won Rookie of the Year in 2020. (ESPN)
  • He was traded to Portland in June 2026. (ESPN)

What’s unclear

  • Whether the Trail Blazers will trade him again before his contract expires.
  • Long-term impact of his shoulder injury on performance.
  • If he will maintain All-Star level production.
  • How the Portland coaching staff will manage his personality.

Key quotes

“The Memphis Grizzlies today suspended Ja Morant for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.”

— Memphis Grizzlies official statement, via The Athletic

“I take full responsibility for my actions. I need to be better for my team, my family, and the fans. I will use this time to work on myself.”

— Ja Morant, public apology after suspension, via ESPN YouTube

“We are committed to Ja as a player and a person. But there are standards that have to be met.”

— Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman, via Front Office Sports

Ja Morant’s story is a cautionary tale about talent, discipline, and second chances. For the Portland Trail Blazers, the decision is clear: invest in his rehabilitation and hope the superstar re-emerges, or face the possibility that the contract becomes a burden. For the Grizzlies, the trade resets their timeline but leaves a lingering question about what could have been.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ja Morant’s net worth?

Ja Morant’s net worth is estimated at around $50 million, including his NBA salary and endorsement deals.

Is Ja Morant still on the Grizzlies?

No, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in June 2026.

How many games did Ja Morant miss due to suspension?

He missed 33 games total: 8 in 2022-23 and 25 in 2023-24.

What is the ‘Ja Morant gun’ incident?

It refers to two separate incidents in 2023 where Morant displayed a firearm on Instagram Live, leading to NBA suspensions.

Has Ja Morant won an MVP?

No, he has not won the NBA MVP award. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2022.

What college did Ja Morant attend?

He attended Murray State University in Kentucky, where he played from 2017 to 2019.

What is Ja Morant’s shoe deal?

He signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike in 2020, and his signature shoe, the Nike Ja 1, was released in 2023.

How many All-Star appearances does Ja Morant have?

He has been selected to the NBA All-Star Game twice (2022, 2023).



Freddie Oliver Cooper Howard

About the author

Freddie Oliver Cooper Howard

Coverage is updated through the day with transparent source checks.