«I'm Ja Morant, I'm not a bad guy»

Ja Morant's transfer from the Grizzlies to the Blazers marks one of the offseason's most significant trades. While not entirely unexpected, it represents a high-stakes gamble for the Portland franchise. The Oregon-based team acquired an All-Star point guard at a minimal cost, trading Jerami Grant and Kris Murphy in return. If this bet pays off, it will be a resounding success; otherwise, the damage is limited. For the Blazers, the logic mirrors that of their owner, Tom Dundon: acquire a depreciated asset with the goal of rehabilitation, albeit with unconventional tactics that still need to prove successful in the NBA.

For Ja Morant, this is a unique opportunity to reshape his public image, both on and off the court, and to prove that he remains an All-Star caliber player who has also matured as a person. Speaking to reporters during the NBA Summer League, which runs until the 19th in Las Vegas, the point guard was remarkably candid about his situation.

«What do I want to clarify? I think you know the answer. My image. [That] I'm a bad guy. I'm Ja. I did what I did in the past, but that's been addressed and resolved. I don't understand why, years later, it's still a topic when nothing has happened since. If I were that guy, you wouldn't be talking to me now. I wouldn't be here...»

Morant views this new chapter as a complete fresh start, eager to showcase a different version of himself to Blazers fans. «New home. New team. New organization. I have the opportunity to show the fans in Portland a different Ja. It's like starting all over again. Over the years, I've grown and learned a lot. My mindset has changed. I approach things differently now. I feel more mature and I'm ready to work,» he assured.

The stage is set for Morant to shine. In Portland, he will share the backcourt with trusted veterans like Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, the latter a former teammate of Neemias Queta with the Celtics. He will also be surrounded by athletic wings and a center like Donovan Clingan, known for his effective screen-setting. Furthermore, he will work under the guidance of Micah Nori, an offensively-minded coach who will be making his debut as a head coach.

During his time in Las Vegas, Morant displayed a positive attitude, spending time with his new teammates on the sidelines of the Trail Blazers' Summer League games. This early start fuels optimism for an intriguing season for the team. It remains to be seen if the player can seize this opportunity, what his current athletic and physical level is, and how much his game has evolved.

Ja Morant's rise in the NBA was meteoric, but his off-court journey unfortunately transformed into one of the league's biggest public relations nightmares in recent history. Between displaying firearms on social media, altercations, and police investigations, the then-Grizzlies point guard saw his conduct exemplarily punished by Adam Silver, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage.

The first major red flag appeared in March 2023. After a game in Denver, Morant went live on Instagram, visibly intoxicated, brandishing a handgun in a nightclub. The NBA's reaction was immediate, deeming the behavior «detrimental to the league» and imposing an eight-game suspension without pay, costing the point guard approximately $669,000 (€585,000) in lost salary.

However, the warning wasn't enough. Just two months later, in May 2023—and after public promises of rehabilitation—he reoffended with the same mistake, again appearing with a firearm in an Instagram live stream, this time inside a friend's car. Given the recurrence, the NBA imposed a hefty 25-game suspension at the start of the subsequent season, requiring the athlete to complete a rigorous counseling program before he could return to the courts, even for practice.

This second forced hiatus had another devastating financial impact: $7.6 million (€6.648 million) from his salary. Even more critically, the time he was absent legally prevented him from reaching the minimum number of games required to be eligible for end-of-season awards (All-NBA), which nullified a contractual bonus that could have amounted to $40 million (€34.99 million).

Alongside these high-profile internet incidents, Morant's name was involved in several parallel legal proceedings that further damaged his reputation. In the summer of 2022, he was accused of repeatedly assaulting a 17-year-old during a pickup game in his backyard and threatening him with a gun tucked into his waistband—a case that eventually went to court.

Months later, in January 2023, the Pacers' entourage complained that a red laser (associated with a gun sight) was pointed at them from a vehicle carrying the player, prompting a thorough internal investigation by the NBA.

Between salaries directly withheld by the league and the bonuses the superstar saw vanish, it's estimated that Ja Morant's conduct cost him nearly $50 million (€43.74 million). This was compounded by the temporary freezing of advertising campaigns from giants like Nike and Powerade (an isotonic drink).