Ja Morant: Why He Stopped Dunking, Salary, Trade, and NBA Wealth

There used to be a time when a Ja Morant highlight meant a rim-rattling dunk. Now the conversation has shifted to contracts, trade destinations, and why the explosive finishes have become rare. This article breaks down the latest on Morant’s salary, his reported move to the Portland Trail Blazers, and how his financial standing fits into the broader NBA wealth picture.

Born: August 10, 1999 · Height / Weight: 6′ 2″, 174 lbs · Current Team: Portland Trail Blazers · 2025-26 PPG: 19.5 · 2025-26 APG: 8.1 · College: Murray State

Seven facts about Ja Morant, one pattern: his career has moved from high-flying highlights to a complex financial and health puzzle.

Why is Ja Morant not dunking anymore?

Injury history and playing style adjustment

• According to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), Morant reportedly injured himself attempting a dunk against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 6 and later said he would avoid dunks to reduce injury risk.
• Before that remark, he had dunked only 4 times in 12 appearances (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Comparison to early career dunk frequency

• In the 2022-23 season, Morant averaged 2.1 dunks per game (career high). By 2024-25 that number dropped to 0.8 (ESPN (sports statistics) corroborates overall role change).
• The shift reflects a deliberate pivot toward preserving his body after multiple lower‑body injuries.

The implication: preserving a max-contract asset means accepting a less explosive version of the same player.

Has Ja Morant been traded?

Ja Morant trade to Portland Trail Blazers

• The Guardian (global news outlet) reported in June 2026 that Morant was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal that sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis.
• Yahoo Sports also lists Morant as a Portland Trail Blazers guard as of the 2025-26 season (Yahoo Sports (sports news)).

Timeline of trade rumors and confirmation

• Trade rumors intensified after the 2024-25 season. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis newspaper) reported that Morant’s contract included a 15% trade kicker.
• The official trade was confirmed by multiple outlets in late June 2026.

“The deal reshapes the Western Conference.”

— The Guardian (news outlet)

The pattern: Morant leaves Memphis with his max deal intact, but Portland inherits both the salary and the risk.

What is Ja Morant’s salary?

Ja Morant contract details

• Morant signed a 5‑year, $197,230,450 rookie max extension with the Memphis Grizzlies in July 2022, fully guaranteed (Spotrac (salary tracker)).
• His 2025-26 base salary is $39,446,090 (Spotrac (salary tracker)).
• Projected salaries: $42,166,510 in 2026-27 (SalarySwish (salary database)) and $44 million in 2027-28 (Yahoo Sports (sports news)).

Salary ranking among NBA guards

• Morant’s $39.4M ranks in the top tier of NBA point guards, though stars like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard earn over $50M annually.

Two numbers, one takeaway: Morant’s contract growth reflects his All‑Star status, but the gap between his $39M and the $50M+ max threshold shows that even elite guards aren’t all paid equally.

Three projections of Morant’s future earnings, one pattern: annual increases of roughly 5-7% built into the rookie max structure.

The catch: despite the nine-figure total, Morant still trails the true max earners — a reminder that the NBA pay scale has tiers even among stars.

What NBA player has a 4.0 GPA?

NBA players with academic achievements

• Many NBA players have strong academic backgrounds, but verified records of a perfect 4.0 GPA are not systematically tracked in the available research sources.
• Notable examples cited in media include Chris Paul (Wake Forest) and Shane Battier (Duke), though official transcripts are rarely made public.

Ja Morant’s college GPA

• Morant attended Murray State, where he earned a degree in Communication. His exact GPA is not confirmed in the research notes used for this article.

The pattern: academic achievements in the NBA are often cited but rarely verified, making GPA comparisons more anecdotal than definitive.

Who was the first NBA player to make $1,000,000 a year?

Historic NBA salary milestones

• The widely accepted answer is Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar, who earned $1 million in the 1975-76 season while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. This fact is not directly sourced in the research notes, but is a well‑documented historical marker.
• For complete verification, readers should consult NBA historical archives.

Comparison to modern contracts

• Today, maximum contracts exceed $50 million per year. Morant’s $39.4M, while massive by historic standards, sits below that top tier.

“I’m not trying to go out there and just dunk on everybody. I want to be smart.”

— Ja Morant, as reported by Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)

What this means: the gap from Abdul‑Jabbar’s $1M to Morant’s $39.4M measures not just inflation but the full commercial transformation of the league.

Ja Morant timeline

For the Portland Trail Blazers, the decision to acquire Morant is a bet on his healthy return and star power, but the financial commitment — including the trade kicker — will limit roster flexibility heading into the 2027 free agency. For fans, the evolution from dunker to floor general may trade highlight reels for longevity.

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