Why Pacers guard T.J. McConnell has worn Ja Morant's Ja 1 sneaker more than any NBA player
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell had a message for Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant on Sunday afternoon as soon as the two crossed paths inside FedExForum.
"You see my feet," Morant recalled McConnell saying.
On McConnell's feet were a pair of Ja 1 sneakers. No NBA player has worn more Ja 1 sneakers than McConnell since the start of last season.
Morant notices which players around the league have worn his shoes, and he's taken note of McConnell's support.
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"It's love there, always," Morant said after the Grizzlies' 136-121 win against the Pacers. "That's big time. Definitely a blessing. I appreciate him for continuing to rock them. Like I said, it's love there, man."
Nic Claxton, Jayden Ivey and McConnell are among the non-Grizzlies players who have worn Ja 1 sneakers the most since the start of the 2023 season. Claxton is a South Carolina native who once played AAU basketball with Morant, and Ivey's mother Niele is a former assistant coach on the Grizzlies staff earlier in Morant's career.
Claxton and Ivey have connections to Morant, but with McConnell there was no obvious pairing that led to the Pacers guard becoming a fan of the Ja 1s.
McConnell, 32, is a guy who doesn't like to switch up his shoes often, even though he is a sneaker free agent. He grew accustomed to wearing Kyrie Irving's Nike sneakers earlier in his career until the Dallas Mavericks star and the brand parted ways.
With Kyrie's Nike sneaker no longer an option, a Pacers equipment manager suggested that McConnell try Morant's Ja 1 sneaker.
"I tried them out and instantly fell in love with them," McConnell said. "Honestly, like I love shoes that are comfortable and they support your feet. When I put them on, they were extremely comfortable, and I just like the way they look. It's a great shoe, and I love playing in them."
McConnell now owns at least six pairs of Ja 1s that he rotates between during the season. He also wore Ja 1s each time the Grizzlies played Indiana last season.
He's aware that Morant's second signature shoe is out, but McConnell is loving his rotation of Ja 1s. When he runs through those, he said he'll give the Ja 2s a try.
"I've been in this league and I'm a fan of great basketball," McConnell said. "He's a really great player. Every time I cross paths with him, he's been good to me. It's fitting that he has a great shoe."
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How T.J. McConnell fell in love with Ja Morant's Ja 1 sneaker
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