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

2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.

Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.

Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.

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 or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here