Nike Releases New Ja Morant Sneakers Despite Latest Suspension
Nike released Ja Morant’s new Ja 1 “Hunger” sneakers on the SNKRS app Thursday, and the shoes sold out within 20 minutes of the launch. The release comes as the Grizzlies star serves an indefinite suspension after he displayed a gun on Instagram Live, his second such suspension in recent months.
This is Morant’s second Nike shoe, as the first Ja 1s were announced in December and released in February.
After Morant flashed a gun in a Colorado nightclub during an Instagram Live stream in March, Nike released a statement supporting Morant’s decision to work on himself.
Following the latest incident, Nike removed the webpage selling the shoe on its website while Finish Line and Hibbett Sports also took the shoe launch off their calendars. However, the shoe still was released Thursday, and it sold out amid buzz on social media.
Morant likely is facing a “lengthy suspension” to start next season, which would almost certainly be longer than the eight games he missed after his previous gun-related incident. The point guard released a statement vowing to work on himself and get better as a person.
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me. This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do,” he wrote.
The Morant situation is Nike’s latest brush with controversy, coming months after it cut ties with Kyrie Irving for sharing the link to an antisemitic film on social media.
