Tee Morant’s Journey from Having NBA Dreams to Helping His Son Ja Morant’s Fulfill His

Tee Morant came close to having the NBA career he had always wanted, but the future had other plans. His son, Ja, would manifest the dream with his dad supporting him every step of the way.

Tee Morant is the father of professional basketball player Ja Morant. Tee had to drop out of the sport in his younger days to see to his family; little did he know, his son would grow to be an All-star for Memphis Grizzlies.

Tee supported Ja throughout his road to pro basketball in a rather unconventional manner. He credits his family’s athletic genetics for his son’s success, whose birth killed his dreams.

Ja Morant and Tee Morant at a Grizzlies VS Minnesota Timberwolves Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2022, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images

The Birth of a Son Ended Tee Morant’s Basketball Career

Tee was a talented basketball player on the verge of jetting off to an NBA career. He played for Claflin University in his younger years and came very close to attaining a spot in the NBA roster. He had participated in free agency camps and played basketball internationally to get his shot.

Tee clearly understood what it took to make it in the sport. He attended Crestwood High School and played basketball alongside the NBA legend Ray Allen. With that fact, one can conclude that Tee is around the same age as Ray, 47.

However, Tee’s dreams of making it in basketball fell apart when his wife became pregnant with Ja. He had to abandon his plans to do what was necessary for his family, settling for a job as a barber at Precision Cuts, where he worked for two decades. His friends and clients at the shop were familiar with Ja’s talent.

Ja Morant and Tee Morant, at a Grizzlies VS New York Knicks game on November 27, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. | Source: Getty Images

Tee’s colleague from his days at Precision Cuts, Wilson, mentioned that Ja would take shots at a regular basketball hoop instead of a kids-sized hoop from the age of four. Wilson added that he was not only shooting but doing so successfully. Ja’s mother firmly believed in his talent, which she projected before his birth. Tee added:

“My wife will tell you she knew Ja was going to be great when he was in her belly. She actually said that. I guess that’s that woman intuition. But, at the same time, you second-guessing her now?”

Ja comes from a family of athletes; his father was drafted into the MLB but sacrificed his dreams for Ja’s sake; his mother played softball and basketball; his uncle was drafted into the MLB along with his father. Tee highlights that his son’s genetics are incredible but asserts that Ja worked to be where he is.

Ja Morant playing against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on December 20, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. | Source: Getty Images

Ja was mesmerizing in his youth; he eventually signed onto the Racers team, averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game as a freshman. As a sophomore, he was certified as the first NCAA athlete to average 20 points and ten assists.

In a 2019 NCAA tournament, he posted a triple-double against Marquette and scored 28 points in a loss against Florida State in the second round. Ja was at the 2019 NBA Draft at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn within two years.

Before heading to the big leagues, Ja got his final haircut from his father, who resigned from the barbershop after that. Tee’s colleague, Wilson, said it was a bittersweet moment watching Ja and his father leave their shop for the last time, calling that moment “the end of an era.”

Tee Morant father of Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant at the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies game at Staples Center on February 21, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

Ja’s story is a continuation of his father’s, who sacrificed his career to look after his son. With all the training from his father and support from the community around him, Ja impressively became a professional basketball player.

He has a younger sister named Teniya, who also plays basketball and aspires to do so professionally. His father is invested in training Teniya, as he did Ja. The NBA pro mentioned that he takes a back seat in her career, letting his father do what he does best.

Tee Was a Strict Ja Morant’s Coach

Ja made it his mission to instill what it takes to make it into his son while withholding the negatives that snatched his opportunity. Tee explained his mentality when coaching his son:

“The negative things I had in me, I wanted to keep out of him, as far as the going out and all that. I wanted him to focus on his dream. I didn’t put 100 percent in mine.”

Tee’s dreams might have slipped through the cracks due to an unforeseen circumstance; however, his passion for the game was carried over to his children. He groomed Ja to be confident, pushing him to dance in front of their guests in Michael Jackson style.

Tee did not let up on pushing his son to improve, despite how good he was. In his senior year, Ja was overlooked by scouts who paid more attention to players that he was outperforming statistically. It did not shake his father; instead, he saw this as an opportunity for Ja’s hunger to grow stronger.

Tee never praised his son, even in the good moments. He always told him that he did not achieve anything and called him overrated so that he would maintain his will to succeed and earn his father’s almost non-existent approval. He does note that his son was always ahead of the rest.

He was just six years old, playing against nine-year-old children but exceeding their vision for the game. He would make plays that they would least expect. Another factor that made Ja so impressive was his miniature stature compared to other kids — which gradually improved in high school.

Tee Morant Is Still Critical of His Son

Ja had the support of both his parents, in contrastingly different forms. His mother, Jamie Morant, would often tell him that he was “beneath no one,” while his father would always provoke his warrior spirit while putting in the hours to train him.

He got a tattoo of his mother’s motivational words when he made it. Although Ja lived up to the expectations of Tee’s friends at the barber shop, Tee still feeds his son negative energy to boost his hunger. Here is an example of the pro-baller admitting just that.

When Jah was drafted into the NBA as a second-round pick by Memphis Grizzlies, he spoke to a reporter with a lot of emotion, thanking his father for supporting him. Tee looked pleased with how far he had come and gave him the approval he had worked tirelessly to receive.

Tee’s son is now a professional athlete in a sport they both spent their lives trying to succeed. Despite his fame and approval from fans across the board, more so from the Grizzly’s supporters, Tee never hesitates to criticize Ja.

Tee Morant Became a Celebrity in His Own Way

Tee Morant did not make it as an athlete, but he is living the dream through his son’s accomplishments. Tee is recognized as the father of the Grizzley’s All-star, Ja, so much so that he has attained celebrity status. He detailed an encounter with a fan while waiting for an uber outside a hotel in San Francisco:

“I kept on moving around, but he kept on eyeing me down. So, I was about to say, ‘Hey, man, you all right? You good?’ So, at the time I went to get in my Uber, he [rolled] his window down and said, ‘Hey, aren’t you Tee Morant?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, you could have said that earlier, man, instead of staring at me.’ It’s weird. It’s new. I’m cool.”

Tee is even rubbing shoulders with celebrities. He was spotted sitting next to Usher at a Grizzley game, and their uncanny resemblance got him displayed alongside the musician on the “Look Alike Cam” during the match. This moment went viral, making Tee familiar to more fans of the sport.

Today, Their dream is accomplished. Tee is a father of an NBA point guard, Ja Morant. The point guard is a father of a little girl, Kaari Jaidyn Morant, who he considers his motivation to improve. Ja is a manifestation of all the work put into sports by his family. The pro and his excelling sister directly reflect their father’s passion for basketball.

Similar to Ja is Golden State Warriors point guard Jordan Poole. His parents were athletes in their younger days and inspired him to succeed. He plays for the same team as the NBA’s most accurate shooter, Steph Curry, and is projected to fill his shoes in the future.

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