Premium

Ja in China: Before Ja 3 sneakers hit stores, they were born on a whiteboard

By , Daily Memphian Published: September 29, 2025 4:00 AM CT
Ja Morant had just finished the first stop in Asia on Nike’s “Make Them Watch Tour,” a four-week marketing effort to raise public hype for his new signature shoe, the Nike Ja 3.It was a critical moment in his career, although it was unclear how it was going to go. These things are highly structured — and China is too — but Morant is spontaneous. In the end, Morant not only taught China about finding joy in basketball; he may have rediscovered it himself.

Before the Ja 3 sneaker was selling out in minutes on Nike’s online shop, the shoe was nothing more than a few scribbles on a whiteboard inside a cramped New York City office.

The process for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s third signature sneaker — the loudest and flashiest yet — was remarkably simple. 

This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.

Topics

Ja Morant Ja 3 Memphis Grizzlies NBA Subscriber Only

Thank you for reading The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.

Did you know we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization? We rely on a mix of revenue from subscriptions (50%), advertising, events and other earned income (25%) and fundraising (25%).

Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian today. 

👉🏽 Your subscription pays for you to read all our journalism.

👉🏽 Your donation powers the work we do to reach everyone else with the news.

We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now.

Drew Hill

Drew Hill

Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.


Comments

Want to comment on our stories? If you’re a subscriber, scroll down to the comments. If you’re not a subscriber, only paid subscribers can add their thoughts, so subscribe now. Our commenting policy can be viewed here