Ja Morant has heard the talk, the chatter that he could be “the face of the NBA.” But as the Memphis Grizzlies star made clear this week, that’s never been his goal.
“There’s a lot that comes with that… I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA,” Morant told Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me pretty much just going out there and doing that had me in those conversations.”
Ja Morant says he never wanted to be the face of the league:
“There’s a lot that comes with that… I play basketball for the love of the game, not to be the face of the NBA. Obviously, I hear that a lot. I don’t put no pressure on it. I just go out and just play my game. Me… pic.twitter.com/6Tt0dX2YIZ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 28, 2025
Since entering the league in the 2019–20 season, Morant has evolved into one of basketball’s most electric players. He won Rookie of the Year, led Memphis to four playoff appearances in six seasons, and quickly became one of the league’s most marketable stars, consistently ranking among the top ten in jersey sales. But fame hasn’t come without turbulence. His two suspensions for off-court incidents put him under a harsh spotlight, making every move magnified.
“I feel like that means way more to me than somebody else pretty much doing it,” Morant said. “Those guys are all-time greats, definitely going to be Hall of Famers. That’s just more respect from my peers, credit to the work I’ve been putting in, but this ain’t the end.”
Even Steph Curry has mentioned Morant as one of the players capable of carrying the NBA forward, high praise from a four-time champion. But Morant isn’t getting caught up in labels or expectations. His focus remains on proving it on the floor.
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