In Pics: Ja Morant's "Ja 2 Nightmare" sneakers drop ahead of Grizzlies vs. Rockets
The latest iteration of Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant's signature "Ja 2" Nike sneakers were released ahead of the his game against the Houston Rockets on the road on Friday.
Dubbed the "Nightmare," the colorway boasts of University Red upper with Celestial gold accents on the Nike Swoosh and Ja logos. It has black suede heels, which feature zombie hands while "Morant" is spelled out on fang-shaped jewels on the lace locks.
Apart from the detailed aesthetics, the shoes are contructed to provide stability, with molded side panel, and proper traction for optimum on-court performance.
The sneakers were released in time for Halloween as well as the start of the new NBA season where the Grizzlies are looking to bounce back after a rough campaign last time around.
Check out screenshots of Ja Morant and the "Nightmare" Ja 2s as shared by Nike Basketball on Instagram.
Ja Morant debuted the "Nightmare" Ja 2s in their season-opener against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, where they won, 126-124.
The sneakers are now available on the Nike website for $130 in adult sizes.
Ja Morant "excited" to be back after truncated campaign last season
Ja Morant is excited to be playing once again after a campaign that saw him limited to just nine games because of a league-imposed suspension followed by a season-ending shoulder injury.
The two-time NBA All-Star did not waste time in showcasing that he is back in their season-opener at Utah on Wednesday. He helped the team to a gutsy 126-124 victory, finishing with 22 points, on 7-of-12 shooting, 10 assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes.
Following the game, Morant shared his thoughts on being back on the court and his expectations for the new season (via the Associated Press):
"I was just excited to be back out there. These guys trust and believe in me every time I'm out there on the floor, so it's only right I go out there and play free," Morant said
He added:
"My job as a point guard is to control the game. I hate if I let the other team's point guard control the game. Whatever I can do to make sure it's in our favor, I try to do."
Ja Morant missed the first 25 games of the Grizzlies last year for flashing a gun on a friend's Instagram account late in the previous season. He returned to play nine games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in practice. The former Rookie of the Year averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 35.3 minutes per game last season.