Ja Morant opens up on Grizzlies departure for first time since trade

A lot has changed for Ja Morant in the past two weeks.

The former Memphis Grizzlies star point guard was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 29 in exchange forwards Kris Murray and Jerami Grant. This came after Morant, 26, spent his first seven seasons in Memphis.

He spoke publicly to media about the change for the first time on July 11 while attending summer league and sporting his new Blazers gear.

“I’m super excited,” Morant said. “Excited to be in Portland, ready to get started there. Definitely grateful for my time in Memphis. That will always be home for me. It’s time to get to work now.”

Morant said after the trade, “it was all love” from Memphis. He called the experience “tough love.”

“I love Memphis,” Morant said. “I love the fans, the organizations, my teammates. I feel like everybody I was real connected with obviously reached out after the trade, and they all wished me the best. And it was the same from me.”

Reports surfaced on Jan. 9 that the team was listening to trade offers for Morant. This came after general manager Zach Kleiman said in February 2025 that the team would not trade him.

Memphis held onto Morant past the February deadline, but he didn’t play another game while dealing with an elbow injury.

When speaking to media in March, Morant again emphasized his willingness to stay in Memphis.

“It’s a business and they decided what they wanted to do for their organization,” Morant said. “Now it’s my time here in Portland.”

Suspensions and injuries took a toll even as he reached new heights of success in Memphis. He received multiple suspensions in 2023 stemming from social media videos that showed him brandishing guns. He played nine games in 2023-24 and 50 in 2024-25.

Other issues surfaced this season. Morant was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team after his comments toward the coaching staff on Oct. 31. He missed 62 games this season due to multiple ankle and calf injuries.

He last played on Jan. 21 against the Atlanta Hawks before suffering a left elbow UCL sprain. Morant averaged 19.5 points and 28.5 minutes per game this season.

Morant addressed those issues and his public image.

“I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already,” Morant said. “I don’t see why years later that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since.”

Portland represents a new start for Morant. After wearing the number 12 and creating a brand around it, he’s switching to No. 1. After initially discussing wearing 12, Morant said the organization has plans for that number, likely referring to former Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

“I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja,” Morant said. “It’s like starting all over again.”

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant opens up on Grizzlies departure for first time since trade