Ja Morant seeks fresh start with Portland Trail Blazers

Point guard Ja Morant, seeking to revitalize a career derailed by injuries and off-court controversies, publicly addressed his desire for a fresh start with the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, July 11. Speaking to reporters at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Morant expressed frustration with his lingering reputation and optimism for his new chapter in Oregon.

Morant, 26, was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to Portland on June 29 in exchange for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The move ended a tumultuous period for the two-time All-Star, whose last three seasons were marred by suspensions and limited to just 79 total games. He played only 20 games last season due to injuries.

In his remarks, Morant pushed back against what he called a misconception that he is a "bad guy," a label that took hold after a series of incidents in 2023. That year, he received an eight-game suspension for displaying a firearm on an Instagram livestream, followed by a 25-game suspension to begin the following season for a similar offense. He was also alleged to have threatened members of the Indiana Pacers' traveling party after a game and faced reports of being a problematic locker room...