Reports: Ja Morant to receive signature shoe deal with Nike
Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant is reportedly on the verge of signing a signature shoe deal with sportswear giant Nike. With Morant displaying immense star potential over the past few seasons, Nike will make a huge move by adding another star to their roster of signature shoes.
Ja Morant has been one of the most exciting young players to follow over the past couple of seasons. Known for his freakish athleticism and on-court antics, Morant quickly became a crowd favorite.
This rise in popularity culminated in an All-Star selection last season. However, the youngster has only continued to make large strides in improvement since. As the leader of the Memphis Grizzlies, Morant truly sets himself apart as a bona fide superstar.
In this regard, global sports apparel giant Nike has also taken note of Morant's rise to stardom. Given Nike's long list of athletes with signature shoes, Ja could find himself listed alongside some of the most celebrated athletes in the NBA.
Nike has signature lines for players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George. However, Nike also has an off-shoot brand for athletes such as Michael Jordan given the popularity of the shoe.
Keeping this in mind, Morant is on the verge of taking the next step toward superstardom. Considering that he also signed his rookie-extension this season, he is also due to earn a lot from the contract.
The news of Nike's intent to release Morant's signature line of shoes was first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania. While the report itself presents great news for Morant, it comes at a very questionable time.
Memphis Grizzlies All-NBA star Ja Morant is in line to receive a new signature shoe at Nike in the near future, industry sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The parties have been working on this for several months. twitter.com/shamscharania/…
Nike recently made headlines after its decision to cut ties with Kyrie Irving.
Read: Why Did Nike Terminate Kyrie Irving's Shoe Contract? All you need to know
Charania reported that Nike has officially severed ties with Irving and he is no longer a Nike sponsored athlete or spokesperson.
The news of Nike severing ties with Irving came slightly before the announcement of Morant's signature shoe line. While the timing could be considered questionable, Nike may need to recover from parting ways with Irving soon.
Ja Morant could have an immensely popular line of shoes with Nike
Reports of Nike's plans to launch Ja Morant's line of signature shoes is exciting to say the least. Considering that the Memphis Grizzlies star is one of the most popular players in the game, Nike may have picked the ideal player to add to their roster.
The reasoning behind this stems from Nike's decision to cut ties with Kyrie Irving. Although the situation and drama surrounding Irving may have been troublesome, Irving contributed greatly to Nike's shoe sales.
Irving's shoes remain incredibly popular. Even after the cancelation of the newest Kyrie 8's, Nike saw massive interest from fans and athletes in Kyrie's signature line.
Whether this could be for ergonomic purposes or due to the popularity of the athlete is up for speculation. However, severing ties with the guard has practically forced Nike to cut its losses.
In this regard, signing an explosive guard in Ja Morant for their open roster spot appears to be the ideal move to make. With his exciting style of play drawing attention from several fans, Nike may find it easier to promote his signature line of shoes.
Also Read: Allen Iverson approves of Ja Morant impacting the game like a superstar: "Ja's 6'3 and can fly, Ja is the real deal"