[19] He posted his first triple-double on December 28, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in an 8052 win over Eastern Illinois. Morant's campaign is expected to be the largest in Powerade history. Buzzsouthafrica.com copyright 2023. Who is Jose Stemkens? He continued to work in silence, praying he would ultimately see the fruits of his labor. His proud father was also a professional Basketball player until he received news of Jas possible birth. The Memphis Grizzlies took the next step toward ushering in a new era when they selected point guard Ja Morant with the No. The South Carolina barber has extended his mentorship outside the family. Morant has been very athletic from a very young age. [92], Morant received a shout-out from rapper J. Cole on the song "My Life" from Cole's 2021 album The Off-Season. His only purpose was to inject his ambitious pedigree into Ja without the negative traits that cut his career short. Ja Morant was basically unstoppable against the Cavs tonight. As Ja is still playing professionally, we can say that his net value will increase in the coming years. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. What's more, Tee is a former basketball at Claflin University and narrowly missed making an NBA roster. All Rights Reserved. He attended Murray State University where he was playing college basketball for the Murray State Racers, Where he was also a sophomore unanimous first-team All-American in 2019. With a family background of athletes like that, Morant, from a young age, was trained by his father to do back jumps and bought tractor tires for him to practice soft landing. Morant had a breakout season as a sophomore, leading the Racers to a 30-1 record and the Ohio . Jamies anxiety level couldnt take it, he said. Maybe Tee's a good singer and could take Usher's place at one of his gigs, too. While boatloads of opinions feel that Zion Williamson is a trascendent talent that far outranks Morant, a few feel that the Racers guard fits better in todays NBA. [1] Morant's favorite artist is rapper Lil Baby. Many men would prefer to pursue a glamorous career in the NBA but not Tee, who chose love and family above career. However, it is obvious that they started dating way back in school. [93] On June 1, 2021, rapper Moneybagg Yo released the song "Rookie of the Year" in celebration of Morant being named NBA Rookie of the Year. He attended Hillcrest High School in Dalzell, South Carolina, where he was teammates with Hall of Famer Ray Allen, and went on to play college basketball at Claflin University -- a HBCU located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Ja Morant's mother was a point guard in high school and a softball player in college. The NCAA's official Division I record book only recognizes triple-doubles that took place in seasons in which the NCAA kept track of the relevant statistical categories throughout Division I. While the Timberwolves and Grizzlies battled it out in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon, the fathers of two of the series' brightest stars engaged in a friendly war of words in . The Morants had a mantra, These four walls, meaning anything that didnt affect the bond between the tight-knit family was none of their concern. He set the Grizzlies franchise mark for most points scored through the first two games of a season (83). He also tied Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in Grizzlies history. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020. With his basketball career over, Tee supported the family by becoming a barber. Tee Morant helped Ja learn hops by jumping daily on 20-inch-thick tractor tires. My dad was my first hater. pic.twitter.com/OtleId7DEZ. Tee, on the other hand, actively molded Ja into the player he is today. Advertise with us October 29, 2022 by Jess. Tee and Jamie gave birth to their first child, Ja Morant, on the 10th of August 1999, while residing in Dalzell, South Carolina. FacebookTee Morant (middle) with his family, including Ja Morant (left). earning first-team all-conference honors in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during his freshman season. Proud to have a keen eye for details and technicalities of the game. He had plans to turn professional but decided not to pursue it when his wife, Jamie, got pregnant with Ja. The Tee Morant Skills & Agility Training Camp is a development program he owns and runs back in Sumter. So, who is he other than another fan trash-talking Ja and Shannon Sharpe? Get to know the Phoenix Suns' young superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. Also Read:Sent the clown back to the Circus Draymond Green reacts as JJ Redick blasts Chris Russo on First Take, Also Read:Paris here we come!!!!!!! Murray State sophomore point guard Ja Morant's rise in the past month is unlike anything mid-major college basketball has seen in a long time. Mama Lin supports her son and equally throws her weight behind Ja, pushing the youngster to always follow Gods plan. Please logout and login again. Ja Morant grew up in South Carolina and attended high school at Crestwood High School. After his university education, Ja Morants dad had to take the hard decision of earning a living as a barber. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard is fortunate to have two experienced parents in the basketball game. Thus, there isnt much to go by on their wedding the date, venue, and type of nuptial they had are unknown. He earned the NBA Rookie of the Year honor in 2020 and was selected for the NBA All-Star Game in 2022. Rotowire Feb 24, 2023. What Tee couldnt accomplish himself, he passed down to his son, Ja Morant. What position does Ja Morant play? Who Is Lonzo Balls Daughter, Zoey Christina Ball and How Old is She Now? [53] In the 201920 season, Morant led all rookies in assists with an average of 7.1 assists per game, as well as total points scored, with 1,138 (17.8 points per game). Ja Morant's mother was a school softball player, while Morant's father played basketball with Ray Allen while at Claflin College. [29] By around December 2018, Morant was almost unanimously projected as a top-five selection in the 2019 NBA draft, and in late January 2019, at least one outlet forecasted him as the first overall selection. He scored 18 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Had to See What the Hype was about ?? Ja Morants Father, Tee Morant: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Andrew Wiggins was assessed a foul on the play. Lastly, Sandlins feature shows how close the Morant family is, and how the connection is fueled by their Christian faith. Tee extends this mentorship to others through the Tee Morant Skills & Agility Training Camp, a development program he runs back in Sumter. Some of the comments were hilarious and those who could not get the fun side of it might even hate Tee for his words. [75], On April 21, 2022, during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, Morant posted 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in a 10495 Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. By the midway point of the 2019-20 season, Morant and Williamson established themselves as the top rookies to beat. Born Temetrius Jamel Morant, he plays for the Memphis Grizzlies team of the NBA. However, he was only lightly recruited by NCAA Division I programs and was unranked by recruiting services. He scored the last 15 points for Memphis and also became just the third player in NBA playoffs history to have multiple 45-point games before turning 23 years old, joining Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. It should also be noted that no one was ejected from the game or from the arena. This has been acknowledged by the younger Morant. MSU proved that. After his triple-double against Marquette, Tee did some quick interviews with Bleacher Reports Master Tesfatsion. Ja Morant is the oldest of two kids born to his parents. Also, as a sophomore, Morant became the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists per game for a single season. Ja is a lefty like his mama, who makes time to follow him to the gym to assist the point guard in working on his shooting stroke. Tee, who likened the incident to blatant heckling, saw to it that the guys did not go unpunished for their insolence. He is a tall man, standing at 6 feet 3 inches. Morant ended Thursday's 110-105 loss to Philadelphia with 15 points (3-16 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 9-10 FT), three rebounds, five . Tee and Jamies marriage is reported to have endured for many years. Tee got more into the spotlight when he came to cheer his son up in a match between Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves. Ja Morant's record-breaking third quarter, triple-double highlight Grizzlies' win vs. Lakers The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers went toe-to-toe until Ja Morant's explosive third quarter . [21] On February 1, 2018, he scored a season-high 23 points against Southeast Missouri State. With his defensive prowess, Tee molded Ja into a formidable attacking point guard, leading Ja to win NBA Rookie of the Year during his outing as a professional. Father and son leveraged their backyard for the training sessions; at a point, Tee purchased tractor tires to enable Ja to practice basketball jumping but with a soft landing. [1][16][17] His father said, "Every parent wants their child to play at a big-time program, but what I realized is, don't go where you want to be, go to where they want you. Describing Ray Smiths gesture as nice, Tee spoke up for his wife, who, according to him, could not handle attending the game. Fantasy Home . For one season, he was teammates with Zion Williamson, who became one of the top players in his class. The main thing out of my game that he had was his athleticism. After Ja Morant & Zion Williamson were drafted first and second in 2019, the pair wound up sharing the floor as teammates once again in the NBA. Insane stuff. He has completed his schooling in his hometown and also completed his graduation from a private college. Did Ja Morant's father play basketball? Ja Morant averages 27.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. Smalley said Ja told her he felt like God had big plans for him, even though his current struggles werent reflecting that. Heres what you need to know: According to The Big Lead, Tee Morant played high school basketball alongside Ray Allen at Hillcrest High in Dalzell (S.C.). Here are 22 facts to celebrate his 22nd birthday. Now, he is the head man at Crestview High on the Carolina coastal town of Sumter. Her days in high school were quite eventful as Jamie was a two sports stand-out. Morant finished Wednesday's 117-111 victory over Utah with 20 points (8-26 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 3-8 FT), eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals across 34 minutes. [62] On October 24, he scored 40 points while dishing out 10 assists in a 121118 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Where Is Beth Thomas of The Child of Rage Now? [1] Morant left as its all-time leading scorer, with 1,679 points, and scored a career-high 47 points against Sumter High School. He was born in Dalzell, South Carolina. A native of South Carolina, Tee played high school basketball at Hillcrest and was a teammate of Hall of Fame guard Ray Allen. He led all qualified NBA rookies in scoring (17.6 ppg) and assists (6.9 apg) and shot 49.1 percent from the field in 59 games. Ja Morant became the first player to score as many as 71 points in his first 2 career playoff games since the 1949-50 season. please like subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz4-Kqe62uA6_ID. Besides that, Tee's son, Ja, has amassed a massive amount of money from his professional basketball career. Just trying to wrap up the night & was not prepared for Tee Morant to ask me to do an interview. On November 13, he recorded his first career double-double with 23 points and 11 assists, and hit a game winning layup in a 117115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He sincerely wanted to follow a career path in sports as a basketball player. He also surpassed Marc Gasol for the most triple-doubles in Grizzlies history. According to the young point guard, his dad greeted him with the message Good job, you still suck after he won Rookie of the Year in NBA. Tee considered playing pro basketball abroad after semi-professional play. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. During the game, Morant set school records for career assists and single-season points. That Tee is Ja Morants first hater is not an indication that father and son have a strained relationship. Ja Morant was the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year who has taken the National Basketball Association by storm. Ja Morant is a professional basketball player who has a net worth of $7 million. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Terms of Use. This conclusion was drawn from the fact that Jamie was already expecting their first child a short while after Tee graduated from the university. He became the eighth player to officially record a triple-double in the history of the tournament, and the first player since Draymond Green in 2012. Morant's father became fixture on the sidelines during the Grizzlies run through the NBA Playoffs and beyond, recently coming to the defense of his son and Dillon Brooks. Besides Ja, the couple has one daughter, Taniya. Morant then . He broke the school single-season assist record of 212 set by Chad Townsend in the 199697 season. Adams went towards Sharpe and the coaches had to restrain him. He did get to see his son play in the same AAU league as Zion Williamson, so Tee has seen the best up close and personal. All About Titus Wellivers Ex-wife. Morant has been a natural athlete since he was a child. Theres one person who would disagree with that assessment. He then pivoted to a career as a barber. [88] On February 2, Morant was named to his second NBA All-Star Game as a reserve guard for the Western Conference. Ja isnt the only child of Tee and Jamie as the NBA player soon became a brother to Teniya Morant, the couples only daughter. [83] On October 21, in the second game of the season, Morant recorded 49 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 blocks on 17-of-26 shooting from the field in a 129122 win over the Houston Rockets. Faced with that kind of situation, there werent many career choices for the basketball hopeful to follow, and at the end of the day, he found himself working in a barbers shop. [35] After posting 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 10270 victory over Eastern Kentucky, Morant became the 46th Murray State player with 1,000 career points and eclipsed the OVC record for single-season assists previously held for 32 years by Duane Washington of Middle Tennessee. They should try out a twin situation where Usher goes to a Grizz game as Tee to see if anyone notices. He estimates that he was about 5-foot-10 in the summer of 2016. Nevertheless, he made an immediate impact at Murray State University, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) as a freshman. He also played semi-professional briefly and was considering the option of going overseas to play pro basketball, but the turn of events put an end to his dream. According to the father of two, his little girl is easier to train than her big brother. Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant's record-breaking third quarter, triple-double highlight Grizzlies' win vs. Lakers The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers went toe-to-toe until Ja Morant's explosive third quarter . It stood for Train To Go. South Carolina native Teniya Morant wore the same numbered jersey as her brother's, NBA star Ja Morant when she played in high school. Even when his chances of making it to the NBA seemed improbable, the young basketball player would continue practicing. [1][90] He has the words "beneath no one, advice his mother gave him, tattooed on his left arm. Thats my motivation, Morant said. [31] On the same day, he broke the school record for most assists in a single game, with 18, while scoring 26 points against UT Martin. He just knows what it takes, Ja said of his dad. Dropped 37 and 6 assists. [54] At the end of the season, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year[55] and earned the NBA All-Rookie First Team honor. He was born on the 10th of August 1999 to his father, Tee Morant, and mother, Jamie Morant, in Dalzell, South Carolina. "[5] Morant played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit with the South Carolina Hornets, a small grassroots team based in Columbia, South Carolina. [57], On May 21, 2021, in the newly implemented play-in tournament, with the eighth and final playoff spot on the line, Morant recorded 35 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to lead Memphis to a 117112 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors, securing the Grizzlies first postseason berth in four seasons. NBA point guard Temetrius Jamel "Ja" Morant was born on August 10, 1999. As mentioned before, Ja Morant will likely go in the top-3 of this summers NBA Draft. Henry Bushnell of Yahoo Sports says: Its not entirely clear how Williamson will fit into an NBA lineup. Also Read: When Michael Jordan reportedly smoked a cigar before an elimination game against the Washington Bullets. The 22-year-old played for Murray State University during his college days and later was drafted into the NBA. Coach, can you open the gym this Sunday? Ja Morant's full name is Temetrius Jamel "Ja" Morant. 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