New Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant is focused on rebuilding his reputation as he begins a new chapter in his NBA career, aiming to move past the "bad guy" narrative that has followed him.
"Obviously, I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why, years later, that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since," Morant told ESPN in his first media availability since being traded to Portland. "I feel like if I was that guy you wouldn’t be talking to me now."
Morant, who has averaged 22.4 points and 7.4 assists since being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has played just 79 games in the last three seasons due to a combination of injuries and off-court issues.
Last season, the two-time All-Star struggled with his health and shot a career-worst 41 percent from the field, including 23.5 percent from three-point range. The Memphis Grizzlies' difficulty in trading the guard was also reportedly linked to his public image.
Morant previously served an eight-game suspension in 2023 for "conduct detrimental to the league" and a 25-game ban at the start of the 2023-24 season following incidents where he displayed a gun on an Instagram live stream. He also received a one-game suspension last season for an altercation with coach Tuomas Iisalo.
"Do I feel like I need a new start? I love it. I’m happy for it," Morant said. "Get to start fresh. New home, new team, new organization. I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja... Over the years, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot."
He added, "Just staying more focused and what’s the most important thing, not worrying about any of the outside stuff. ... Anything that was a problem in Memphis shouldn’t matter to me no more. My focus is Portland." Morphing his public perception will be a significant challenge for Morant as he aims to revive his standing as one of the league's most electric talents with the Trail Blazers.