Ja Morant is dialling up the heat this summer with a duo of sizzling Ja 3 colourways – and it all kicks off in the heart of New York City. The Memphis Grizzlies superstar’s third signature sneaker with Nike continues to evolve his high-octane playing style into bold, wearable design, packed with performance tech for the next-gen hooper.
First up is the Ja 3 ‘NY vs NY’, landing exclusively in-store at Foot Locker’s 34th Street flagship in NYC on Monday, July 21 – a full day before its global launch. Fans who pull up can expect more than just early access. Foot Locker is going all-in with a one-day-only celebration featuring a Pop-A-Shot tournament, live DJ sets, custom giveaways, a photobooth setup, and even a mystery guest appearance. Early birds will also score a special gift with purchase – because who doesn’t love free stuff?
On August 5, the spotlight shifts to the Ja 3 ‘Light Show’ – a technicolour fire-cracker built on a crisp white/grey foundation, lit up by reflective volt-blue and hot-pink Swooshes plus flashes of orange and purple on the jagged overlays, which spell out the graffiti-style ‘A’. Full-length ZoomX keeps the bounce bionic, while the serrated outsole pattern is primed for Morant’s stop-start mayhem.
Design-wise, the Nike Ja 3 pushes the tempo with a low-to-the-ground silhouette that mirrors Ja Morant’s lightning-fast first step. It builds on the ‘scratch’ aesthetic of the Ja 1 and 2 – this time exaggerating the claw-mark motif with deeper grooves and sharper cuts across the lateral side.
The midsole gets a major tech upgrade too: full-length ZoomX foam delivers explosive energy return, while a rugged rubber outsole introduces a brand-new pattern engineered to grip on stop-and-go plays. The upper mixes lightweight mesh with reinforced synthetics for lockdown support without bulk, and a midfoot strap returns for extra containment during those aerial assaults.
For more on performance hoops, make sure to check out Paige Bueckers' Nike GT Cut 4.
