With the final Western Conference playoff berth on the line, the ninth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies faced the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in a winner-takes-all play-in showdown. Both teams had already secured victories in their opening play-in games, leaving this matchup to decide who would advance to the postseason and who would see their campaign come to an end.

Neither side could be separated after regulation, forcing the contest into overtime as the lead changed hands repeatedly in a tense finish.

With under a minute left in the extra period, Grizzlies star Ja Morant received the ball at the top of the arc and drove toward the basket against Stephen Curry. Curry initially held his ground, forcing Morant to pull the ball back beyond the three-point line.

Morant then switched to his left hand, settled himself with a couple of controlled dribbles, and attacked once more down the left side. Creating just enough space from Curry, he floated a two-footed runner toward the basket. The shot dropped cleanly through the net without touching the rim, giving Memphis a vital three-point advantage late in overtime.

Golden State failed to respond on its next possession, allowing Memphis to regain control of the game. With the clock winding down, Ja Morant once again took charge. With nine seconds remaining and only five left on the shot clock, the point guard drove into the lane, spun past his defender and calmly knocked down another floater to seal the Grizzlies’ victory.

Morant ended the night with an outstanding all-around performance, recording 35 points, six rebounds and six assists.

The win secured Memphis’ first playoff appearance in three years. Although the Grizzlies were eliminated in the opening round by the Utah Jazz in a 4-1 series defeat, the team’s future looked exceptionally promising. Morant, then in only his second NBA season, averaged 30.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists during the playoffs, announcing himself as one of the league’s emerging superstars.

Overlooked but determined

Born in South Carolina to a family with a strong sporting background, Ja Morant developed his love for basketball from an early age. His father, Tee, had been a high school teammate of Ray Allen, while his mother, Jamie, played basketball in high school and collegiate softball.

Tee played a key role in shaping Morant’s game, teaching him his signature step-back jumper and even buying tractor tyres to help improve his balance and landing technique. Growing up, Morant regularly challenged older opponents, confidently telling his mother he “wasn’t worried about the big kids.”

At Crestwood High School, Morant established himself as one of the school’s greatest players, graduating as the program’s all-time leading scorer. He was named All-Region Most Valuable Player in three consecutive seasons and earned South Carolina Class 3A All-State honours during both his junior and senior years.

In his final high school campaign, the dynamic guard averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game.

Despite those impressive numbers, Morant attracted little attention from the nation’s top college basketball programmes. He went unranked in the 2017 recruiting class, with the University of South Carolina providing his only major-conference scholarship offer.

He also received offers from Duquesne, Maryland Eastern Shore, South Carolina State and Wofford. As he weighed up his options, his career took an unexpected turn when Murray State assistant coach James Kane discovered him by chance during a recruiting trip in July 2016.

A chance encounter changed everything

James Kane had travelled to a basketball camp with the intention of scouting another player for Murray State. Instead, he was captivated by Morant, who was competing in a three-on-three game. Impressed by what he saw, Kane immediately contacted head coach Matt McMahon to recommend the talented guard.

Murray State quickly extended a scholarship offer, and just two months later Morant committed to the programme during a dinner at McMahon’s home.

Emerging as a college star

Morant wasted little time making his mark in college basketball.

In December of his freshman season, he recorded the first triple-double of his collegiate career with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, earning First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honours while also being selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team.

His outstanding play helped guide the Murray State Racers to the Ohio Valley Conference championship, securing the programme’s place in the NCAA Tournament, better known as March Madness.

From college sensation to NBA star

Morant elevated his game to another level during his sophomore season at Murray State, emerging as the team’s undisputed leader. He nearly doubled his scoring output, averaging 24.5 points and 10 assists per game while breaking the Ohio Valley Conference’s single-season assists record, which had stood for 32 years.

He finished the season as the NCAA Division I leader in assists and became the first player in Division I history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists over an entire season. His remarkable campaign earned him Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honours.

Following the season, Morant declared for the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected the explosive point guard with the second overall pick, convinced by his elite athleticism, playmaking ability and enormous upside. At 6-foot-2, Morant had already built a reputation for his electrifying dunks and dynamic style of play during his time in college.

He made an immediate impact in the NBA, piling up double-doubles, triple-doubles and several game-winning performances. After leading all rookies in both scoring and assists, Morant was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Under his leadership, the Grizzlies developed into a consistent playoff team, qualifying for the postseason in four consecutive seasons beginning with their play-in tournament triumph over the Golden State Warriors in 2021. In his third NBA campaign, Morant averaged a career-best 27.4 points per game before raising his playmaking numbers to a personal-high 8.1 assists per contest the following season.

One of the defining moments of his breakout year came in February 2022, when he erupted for a career-high 52 points in a 118-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

The performance featured one of the NBA’s most memorable highlights of the season—a spectacular one-handed alley-oop catch and finish at the buzzer. Morant capped off his outstanding campaign by winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award and earning the first All-Star starting selection of his career.

Off-court controversies

Just as Morant appeared to have established himself among the NBA’s elite, his career was overshadowed by a series of off-court incidents.

In March 2023, the Grizzlies star streamed a live video on Instagram in which he was seen holding a firearm while inside a strip club in Colorado. The NBA responded by suspending him for eight games without pay, citing conduct detrimental to the league. Colorado police also described the footage as “concerning.”

Only two months later, another video surfaced online showing Morant displaying a firearm while riding in a vehicle. The incident prompted the Grizzlies to suspend their franchise player from all team-related activities while the NBA conducted a further investigation.

As a result, Morant was handed a 25-game suspension to begin the 2023-24 NBA season, marking the most significant setback of his professional career to that point.

A fractured relationship leads to a fresh start

The relationship between Morant and the Grizzlies continued to deteriorate during the following season. In November, the team suspended the star guard for one game after a heated exchange with head coach Tuomas Iisalo following a defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.

From that point onward, tensions between the two sides became increasingly apparent.

Morant also endured a difficult spell with injuries. Shoulder and elbow problems each required season-ending surgery, while suspensions and fitness setbacks restricted him to just 79 appearances over the previous three seasons.

With the partnership seemingly beyond repair, Memphis actively explored trade options ahead of last season’s deadline. Despite making Morant available, the Grizzlies initially struggled to find a suitable deal.

That changed in late June, when the Portland Trail Blazers emerged as an unexpected suitor for the former No. 2 overall draft pick.

Memphis ultimately agreed to send Morant to Portland in exchange for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray and $1 million in cash considerations, bringing an end to one of the NBA’s most turbulent player-team relationships in recent years.

A surprising move and a fresh opportunity

The trade came as a surprise, particularly because the Trail Blazers already had several established point guards on their roster, including Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson. However, under new offensive-minded head coach Micah Nori, Portland believes all four guards can play important roles as the team looks to make progress in the Western Conference.

A chance for redemption

Due to Morant’s recent controversies and injury concerns, his trade value had fallen significantly. However, Portland sees an opportunity to rebuild that value. If Morant can remain healthy and avoid further distractions, he has the ability to make an immediate and transformative impact on the franchise.

The star guard will turn 27 in August and still has plenty of time to reach the level many expected from him earlier in his career. After facing widespread criticism and doubts about his future, Morant now has a chance to prove his critics wrong and show that he still has much more to offer.

A fresh start in Portland could provide the platform he needs to rebuild his reputation, rediscover his best form and revive his NBA career.

When Morant first joined Memphis, the Grizzlies were not viewed as serious contenders. However, with him as their centerpiece, the franchise returned to playoff contention and regained its place among the NBA’s rising teams before off-court issues disrupted the progress of their young star.

Although Morant’s name has often appeared in headlines for controversial reasons, his career has also been defined by his extraordinary athleticism, explosive scoring ability and unforgettable moments on the court.

Now, a new chapter begins in Portland. The biggest question is whether Morant can put his past behind him, rediscover his best form and help another franchise rise into championship contention.