Add The New York Post on Google Ja Morant has the chance to rebuild his career in Portland, to revive his reputation as one of the league’s most electric talents.
But he knows it will be far harder to remake the perception so many have of him as a “bad guy.”
“Obviously, I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why, years later, that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since,” Morant said in his first media availability since being traded to the Trail Blazers, per ESPN.
“I feel like if I was that guy you wouldn’t be talking to me now.”
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half of a game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Houston. AP The two-time All-Star is just 26 but has seen his stock dip significantly, having played just 79 games in the past three seasons due to injuries and off-court issues.
Morant, who has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists since being taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, looked like a shell of himself last season, as he struggled to stay healthy and shot a career-worst 41 percent from the field (23.5 percent on 3-pointers).
However, Memphis’ difficulty trading the guard also stemmed from his image.
Morant served an eight-game ban in 2023 for “conduct detrimental to the league” and a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season, following incidents in which he displayed a gun on an Instagram live stream.
Morant was also suspended for one game this past season for an altercation with coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at FedExForum on April 06, 2026. Getty Images “Do I feel like I need a new start? I love it. I’m happy for it,” Morant said. “Get to start fresh. New home, new team, new organization. I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja … Over the years, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot
“Just staying more focused and what’s the most important thing. not worrying about any of the outside stuff. … Anything that was a problem in Memphis shouldn’t matter to me no more. My focus is Portland.”
