Ja Morant’s latest Nike sneakers sold out in minutes due to the gun controversy
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant signed a deal with sportswear and footwear giant Nike in 2019.
Nike has decided to move ahead with plans to release Morant’s latest sneaker, despite the star point guard being recently banned from all team activities. The Grizzlies imposed the suspension after a social media video surfaced earlier this month showing Morant wielding a gun.
The Ja 1 Hunger sneaker was made available on Thursday. According to the Wall Street Journal, the shoe sold out in about 20 minutes. At the moment, Nike doesn’t seem interested in ending their relationship with Morant.
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Los Angeles, California, United States; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the first half in game four of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. (Gary A Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports)
Fox News Digital contacted Nike for more information, but did not immediately receive a response.
A handful of retailers such as Finish Line and Hibbett Sports recently decided to remove the shoe from their respective online release calendars.
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Morant’s first signature shoe with Nike was launched in December. The sneaker was released in retail stores earlier this year.
Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, debuts his Nike signature shoe, the Ja 1 “Day One,” at the Chase Center on December 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images)
Shortly after the suspension, Morant released a statement apologizing for his actions.
“My words may not mean much right now, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I’m determined to keep working on myself,” he said.
Ja Morant, number 12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, signs his sneakers for a fan after the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 11, 2023 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
In March, Morant displayed a handgun during a live Instagram video stream while at a Denver-area nightclub. The NBA then suspended him for eight games.
After the first suspension, Nike said it appreciated the fact that Morant took responsibility. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he was “shocked” by the latest video.
“Honestly I was shocked when I saw this video this weekend,” Silver said earlier this month. “Now we’re in the process of investigating, and we’re going to find out exactly what happened as best we can. The video is a bit grainy and all, but I’m assuming the worst.”
Aside from the nightclub video and recent gun swinging video, Morant has been linked to several incidents over the course of the season.
Last summer, a member of the security team at a Memphis mall told police he was “threatened” during an altercation in the Morant parking lot, according to records obtained by The Washington Post. There were no arrests.
In another incident, Morant was accused of repeatedly punching a 17-year-old boy in the head during a pickup game at Morant’s Tennessee home.
The teenager also told investigators that Morant went into the house and came out with a gun, according to police interviews obtained by The Washington Post. In April, Morant filed a counterclaim He accuses the teenager of defamation, assault and assault.
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Elsewhere, Nike ended his relationship with Kyrie Irving after a controversial social media post that referenced an anti-Semitic film. As a result, sales of the Kyrie 8 shoe have been temporarily suspended. Irving later apologized.