Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant parts ways with Lift Sports Agency

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has parted ways with Lift Sports Management, multiple sources told The Commercial Appeal on June 12.

The sources were granted anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

The Lift Sports Management list of clients no longer includes Morant, who was listed on the website as recently as May 16.

Morant joined Lift, an agency headed by former Grizzlies player Mike Miller, in April 2024. Miller became a regular at Grizzlies home games this season, usually seated courtside alongside Morant’s father, Tee Morant.

Morant and Miller could not be reached for comment for this story.

Ja Morant previously joined Lift after parting ways with Jim Tanner of Tandem Sports + Entertainment. Morant spent his first five NBA seasons being represented by Tanner.

After becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Morant quickly became a star NBA point guard in Memphis. He won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, then won the league’s Most Improved Award in his third season.

The success led to Morant earning his own signature shoe, becoming Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z athlete.

However, Morant’s journey hasn’t been all peaches and rainbows. He was first suspended in March 2023 after brandishing a gun in an Instagram Live video. Two months later, a second Instagram Live video surfaced online of Morant brandishing a gun. He received a 25-game suspension at the start of the 2023-24 season.

Morant made two All-Star Games in 2022 and 2023. Injuries and the lengthy aforementioned suspension shortened his 2023-24 season. He averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists in 50 regular-season games this season.

Ja Morant, Grizzlies remain strong

All indications are that the relationship between the Grizzlies and Morant remains strong. Memphis hired Tuomas Iisalo as its next coach when the season ended. Morant spoke highly of Iisalo before the hiring, and his stats improved when Iisalo took over in place of former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.

The Grizzlies also have continued to prioritize Morant as a franchise cornerstone.

Morant signed a five-year extension worth $197 million in July 2022. He’ll be eligible for a two-year extension this summer, but he has three seasons remaining on his current contract.

What’s next for Ja Morant

Morant could look to partner with another agency that best represents his goals. Another option for the Grizzlies star is self-representation.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently parted ways with Wasserman talent agency to represent himself. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is another NBA star who went the self-representation route.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.