ALL-STAR GAME: TEAM DURANT VS. TEAM LEBRON

February 20, 2022

Ja Morant

Team Durant

Press Conference

Team LeBron 163, Team Durant 160

Q. Ja, what was this experience, overall the entire weekend, like, but lastly, today just seeing all the legends and being front row right there to that whole experience?

JA MORANT: Definitely blessed to even be a part of this weekend, let alone being an All-Star starter, being able to participate and celebrate the greatest people to play the game. Definitely an honor. I loved it.

Q. The Grizzlies have had All-Stars before, but it is a little different when you are a starter and one of the more exciting players in the league. Have you thought about what this will mean to the franchise in general? And then, also, you have got a long career ahead of you, so whenever the NBA has its 100th Anniversary, have you thought about maybe wanting to be a part of that 100th team?

JA MORANT: Everything I do is for Memphis, so I'm always representing Memphis and having the honor to playing this game and represent Memphis is big-time for me.

Question about the top 100, I do plan on being on that list. That's what I'm working for.

Q. You had that reverse dunk that might have gotten this arena louder than it got for any dunk all weekend long. What would it take to get you in the Dunk Contest?

JA MORANT: Nothing. Just if I want to, I will. Other than that, no.

Q. You want to?

JA MORANT: No. That's why I haven't been in it yet. The answer might change, I don't know, but as of now, nah. The goal is not high enough.

Q. You were one of a number of young stars here today. Did you hear from some of the guys who were on other teams that are younger but aren't having the success that Memphis did? Were they asking you about that, and how you got there?

JA MORANT: No.

Q. Not really?

JA MORANT: Nah. I just try to do whatever I can to help my team win basketball games. If you ask my coach, he will tell you that my main focus is winning, and when you win, all the other stuff comes with it, which is why I'm here in this seat right now.

Q. What was your mentality coming into tonight's game, and what happened on the floor that maybe you didn't anticipate in your first All-Star experience?

JA MORANT: Pretty much just enjoy the moment, have fun. I wasn't trying to do too much. I'm saving my energy for the second half of the season.

Q. Going back to the legends again, I know some of them, like A.I., D-Wade, some of those guys you have drawn inspiration from. Did you spend any time with them, or did they talk to you? Did you talk to them? What was that like?

JA MORANT: I talked to D-Wade, Ray [Allen] after. Took a picture with them. They were saying there's a lot of room up here, to go be on the top 100 list. That's my goal. Like I said before, that's what I'm working for.

Q. When you graduated from high school, you got very few Division I offers. What inspires you to make you what you've become today, an All-Star starter?

JA MORANT: Just my family, my daughter. I feel like they're my biggest motivation. I wake up and put in the work to do what I do out there on the floor, so they won't have to worry about working at all.

As far as the high school coming out, no stars to being an All-Star, just started with me just believing in myself, having that confidence in myself that I'm good enough. Obviously, I had to put in the work as well and just was patient. I just told myself that it will come. Just keep being me, keep doing what I've been doing.

Q. We know how much your dad has had an impact on your life, so what do you think that this weekend meant to him and also, did he get a chance to catch up with Ray as well?

JA MORANT: I'm don't know if they caught up or not. I'm pretty sure they probably did. He probably talked to everybody out there. He probably snuck in the back or something, knowing him.

This weekend is big-time for me and my family. Obviously, for my dad, he is probably really happy. He ain't going to say it, though, but I'm pretty sure he is happy.