Nike puts Ja Morant dunking over Portland's White Stag sign
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The gist
Nike unveiled Ja Morant's likeness dunking over Portland's White Stag sign before his Blazers home debut.
The sign marks his fresh start after a Memphis tenure marred by suspensions.
Background
Ja Morant is a two-time NBA All-Star point guard whom the Memphis Grizzlies traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in June 2026 after seven seasons. His time in Memphis was marred by suspensions and injuries — he missed 167 of his team's games over the last three years and played just 79 games in the past three seasons. Nike, the Beaverton-based sportswear company for which Morant is a longtime signature athlete, timed the White Stag sign unveiling to his first regular-season home game in Portland.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2023The Grizzlies and the NBA suspended Morant after he went on Instagram Live at a strip club and flashed a gun.
- May 2023Morant was suspended again for brandishing a gun in a social media video.
- Jun 2026Memphis traded Morant to Portland for a package including forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
- Aug 13, 2026Morant's fourth signature shoe, the Ja 4, launched at $140.
- Oct 4, 2026Morant played in the Trail Blazers' annual Fan Fest at Moda Center.
- Oct 16, 2026In the preseason finale, Morant logged 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting over 27 minutes in a 128-118 loss to the Warriors.
- Oct 20, 2026A tarp-covered figure appeared near the White Stag sign in Portland's Old Town neighborhood.
- Oct 21, 2026Nike unveiled Morant's likeness dunking over the deer on the White Stag sign, hours before the Blazers' home opener against the Suns.
- Oct 21, 2026Morant started alongside Damian Lillard in his first regular-season game as a Trail Blazer, scoring six points in his first eight minutes as Portland led 45-22.
- Nov 7, 2026Morant's likeness is scheduled to come off the sign before the annual holiday redecorating.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- A Nike spokesperson called the sign "a larger-than-life symbol of the resilience and spirit that define Ja and Rip City" and "a harbinger of what's to come."
- Support
- Damian Lillard said "a lot of people have him wrong" and that Morant is "a solid dude."
- Expert
- Former Trail Blazer Channing Frye said he is "pretty sure" Morant has the highest-selling Nike shoe next to Kobe Bryant's.
- Caution
- Morant's Memphis tenure was marred by suspensions and injuries, and he has played just 79 games over the past three seasons.
Still unverified
It is unknown how much Nike paid to alter the White Stag sign; a city spokesperson did not immediately return a message.