Ja Morant wants fresh start with Blazers, says he’s no longer ‘that guy’

Ja Morant knows his reputation took a hit over the past few years. Now, he wants people to know he’s changed.

Speaking to reporters Saturday at the Las Vegas Summer League, Morant said he’s hoping for a fresh start with the Trail Blazers after a turbulent final stretch with the Grizzlies that included suspensions, injuries and, ultimately, a trade.

“What would I like cleared up?” Morant said, via ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “My image. That I’m a bad guy.

“I’m Ja. 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 emerged as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars after earning All-Star selections in 2022 and 2023. But a pair of gun-related suspensions, combined with injuries, derailed much of the past three seasons and ultimately led to his departure from Memphis.

Now he believes Portland offers a chance to begin again.

“New home. New team. New organization,” Morant said. “I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja. It’s like starting all over again.

“Over the years, I’ve grown a lot and learned a lot. My mindset changed. I go into things differently now. I feel more mature, and I’m ready to work.”

Morant added that he’s fully healthy after injuries limited him to just 20 games last season and said he’s excited to play alongside Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija. He even indicated he’d be willing to accept whatever role the Trail Blazers ask of him.

As for Memphis, Morant insisted there are no hard feelings.

“It was all love,” he said. “I love Memphis, I love the fans, I love my teammates. … It definitely was some good years.”

Whether Morant’s fresh start leads to a return to All-Star form remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear: He’s hoping people begin talking more about his basketball again, and less about everything else.

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