Ja Morant Wore Exclusive Nikes for His Dunk of the Year Contender on Victor Wembanyama
Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama may be two of Nike’s top NBA athletes, but the two stars couldn’t be much further apart in terms of stature. At 6’2”, Morant is among the shortest active players in the league, while Wembanyama’s 7-foot-3 frame is one of the tallest. Yet Wednesday night, the size disparity wasn’t enough to intimidate Morant, who threw down one of the season’s most impressive slam dunks yet this season.
With the Memphis Grizzlies holding a 122-111 lead over the San Antonio Spurs and just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Morant began driving to the hoop. Teammate Stephon Castle was called for a foul just as Morant passed the three-point line, causing many of the players on court to stop at the sound of the whistle.
Yet Morant kept his momentum full speed, driving straight into Wembanyama who (perhaps halfheartedly) jumped to defend the play. And with one hand, the Grizzlies star powered the ball through the rim, creating what’s sure to be one of the lasting images of the season — whether or not it actually counted on the stat sheet.
The dunk immediately began going viral on social media, sparking a debate over whether it should be heralded as a top play. “This is the thing that everyone was saying: ‘These two are matched up, will Ja dunk on Wemby?’ And we got the answer — yes. Now, maybe the two points don’t count, but still, the highlight does” WNBA veteran Chiney Ogwumike said on ESPN after the game.
During a postgame presser, Morant himself touched on the controversy.
“I kept going with the play because normally I don’t hear no whistle when I drive to the rack,” Morant told reporters. “[Wembanyama] was just another person at the rim. I’ve dunked on plenty of people, bro. He don’t get no pass. If you at the rim, I’m going to try you if it’s that situation.”
Morant’s on-foot choice for the Wednesday game was as spooky as the dunk itself. He laced up the player exclusive version of his Halloween-themed “Nightmare” Nike Ja 2 signature sneakers. While the retail version was released in red, Morant’s exclusive pair featured a black base with red and gold detailing. The retail version of the Nike Ja 2 “Nightmare” can still be purchased from retailers including Foot Locker for $130.