“This is my baby, my motivation right here,” beamed Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies point guard, cradling a three-year-old. ” Only right to make history on the night she’s here to watch me.”
You may have witnessed Ja Morant credit his adorably beautiful three-year-old with career-high 52 points that handed the Memphis Grizzlies a win against the San Antonio Spurs.
The NBA megastar isn’t above lavishing his young daughter with unusual gifts. At the height of the pandemic, he gifted her a win against the Oklahoma Thunders after he couldn’t make it home for her first birthday. The basketballer was stuck in the Orlando bubble, the isolation center created to protect players against the deadly Coronavirus.
Dig in as we detail more about Ja Morant’s little princes and how she’s got him wrapped around her little teeny-weeny fingers.
Who is Kaari Jaidyn Morant?
Kaari Morant is the celebrity child of Ja Morant, the poster for the Memphis Grizzlies, and his ex-girlfriend KK Dixon. Born on August 7, 2019, Kaari Jaidyn is a three-year-old baby girl and Ja Morant’s life and soul.
Born two months prematurely, the young sweetheart has battled more than most three-year-olds for a place in this world. She must have gotten the warrior spirit from her superstar dad. Ja fought against all odds to land a prime spot in the NBA.
Kaari may have been born into a privileged background, but she’s worked hard to cultivate a larger-than-life personality. The adorable three-year-old is a constant fixture in NBA games, going full out to support her basketball-playing dad. You can quickly tell she has the love for the game coded into her DNA, making her a fan favorite at a relatively tender age.
Her love and commitment to her father aren’t lost on him. Taking to Instagram, Kaari’s dad, Ja Morant, posted a picture of his baby girl with a heartfelt caption.
“You light up my life in my darkest hours. Your love gives me the strength to endure life’s problems.”
Clearly, the adorable three-year-old Kaari has done as much for her dad as he’s done for her. The doting father brings his little princess to the games, where she’s grabbed the media’s attention.
Kaari J. Morant – Media Sensation
Ja Morant’s Daughter Kaari Jaidyn became a media sensation after her love for basketball became apparent. She’s been frequently dribbling the ball on the court (or at least attempting to – after all, she’s only a teeny-weeny three-year-old).
At one time, she became the subject of a viral video after she was captured imitating her dad while he celebrated on the basketball court. The Memphis Grizzlies star has a special celebration routine after making a shot.
Seemingly, he’s taught Kaari the routine. Maybe she taught him, or perhaps learned it from her? The duo spends considerable time together since Jaidyn has lived full-time with her dad since her parents split.
In the viral video, Jaidyn, accompanied by her grandpa, Tee Morant, is seen imitating her dad’s routing to the Tee. Her gleeful grandfather couldn’t contain his excitement.
Tee Morant is beaming with pride, smiling from ear to ear in delight as he watches Jaidyn mirror her father as he does his celebratory routine on the basketball court.
Kaari Jaidyn Morant was born two months prematurely because her mother, Karen Dixon, suffered from preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a severe blood pressure condition that results during pregnancy. The condition leads to a blood supply to the baby and puts both the unborn baby and the mother in mortal danger.
Kaari Jaidyn Morant – Fighting for Life from the Get-go
KK Dixon had to undergo emergency surgery on August 17, 2019, to deliver her adorable little princess, Kaari Jaidyn Morant. The surgery was a massive success, and both the child and mother survived. Kaari spent the first two months in an incubator before her parents could take their little bundle of joy home.
Today, Kaari Morant is a beautiful, bubbly, healthy baby girl full of zest and life. She’s grown to become a media sensation with a massive following on Instagram. At the time of writing, @kaarimorant has 103K followers on IG. Kaari is too young to run a social media account, so her mom and dad jointly manage the account.
Kaari Morant may have come into this world as a preterm baby, but she seems to be seizing the moment and making the most of her life. Are we witnessing a basketball superstar in the making? Only time can tell.
Ja Morant, Kaari Jaidyn’s Father
Born Demetrius Jamel Morant, Ja Morant is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies. The superstar plays the point guard position and has proven a valuable asset for the Grizzlies.
Ja Morant was born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, to Tee and Jamie Morant. Ja Morant’s parents were former athletes, which may partly explain his exemplary performance – basketball is a big deal in his family.
Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, played basketball for Claflin University but opted out of the sport to raise his young son. Ja Morant’s mother was a point guard in high school before switching to softball in college.
Ja Morant has a younger sister, Teniya Morant, who also loves and plays basketball. Teniya plays competitively for Hillcrest Middle School in Dalzell, South Carolina.
Ja Morant’s Backyard Basketball Practice
Ja Morant’s father, Tee, introduced his young son to the beautiful game as a toddler. The Memphis Grizzlies star grew up shooting hoops and practicing his moves in the backyard under his father’s watchful eye.
Morant senior taught his son the step-back shots and bought tractor tires to provide a soft landing during the jumping drills.
The early start and constant practice may have helped his chances of playing basketball in the big leagues. Of course, having a father who was on the verge of turning pro also helped a great deal.
Ja Morant attended Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina, where he was a vital member of the school’s basketball team. Ja Morant joined the school’s basketball team as a puny 5′ 9″ lanky teen, growing to a formidable 6′ by the time he graduated. By the time Morant graduated from high school, he’d broken all the records to become his all-time leading scorer.
Ja Morant scored a staggering 1,679 points in high school, even though he couldn’t dunk until his senior year. During his last two seasons in the high school championship, Ja averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, and assists per game.
The exemplary performance clinched him the South Carolina Class 3A All-state honors during the last two seasons. Morant graduated high school as a 3-time All-Region Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Jamel Morant’s Humble Beginnings
You would be forgiven for thinking recruiters would be beating a path to Ja Morant’s (technically, his father’s) door with all his accolades. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
None of the recruiting services – ESPN, Rivals, or 247Sports – ranked the young superstar. Ja Morant only received a major NCAA Division offer by pure chance.
James Kane, an assistant coach at Murray State University, discovered Ja Morant by pure chance. The assistant coach was attending the Ohio Valley Conference, hoping to rope in some talent for their team. He chanced upon Morant vanquishing his opponents during a three-on-three game in an auxiliary gym.
Impressed by the young man’s skill and talent, Kane contacted Matt McMahon, Murray State University’s head coach. The head coach subsequently offered the fledgling star a full-scholarship ride at Murray State University barely two months later, on September 3, 2016.
Ja Morant’s Collegiate Basketball Career
Ja Morant debuted for Murray State on November 10, 2017, where he scored 7 points and a record 11 assists in his usual fashion. They crushed Brescia University 118 – 61 at the National Association of the Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Ja Morant’s Freshman Year Accolades
Ja Morant spots a tattoo with the words “beneath no one.” His mother gave him this advice while practicing basketball in their backyard, and he took them to heart. This motto may have ignited a fire to break records and collect accolades. Here are some of Ja Morant’s accolades during his first year at Murray State:
- Clinched the first double-double of his basketball career
- He recorded his first triple-double, the second in the school’s history since 1984, breaking a 38-year record.
- Posted the record of most assists during a game, breaking the previous record of 12 assists in 1999.
- He scored a record 23 points to post a season-high
- Clinched the first-team All-OVC after averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game.
- He ranked 14th nationally with his 6.3 assists per game
- He was the 7th freshman in a quarter of a century to accumulate 150 rebounds, 150 assists, and ten blocks, all the while scoring at least 42% of the court.
- Ja helped Murray State advance to the NCAA Tournament after winning the OVC Championship.
Ja Morant’s Sophomore Year Accolades
After an exceptional first year, Ja Morant was no longer an insignificant blip on the radar.
His exceptional performance caught the attention of several talent scouts. In the summer of 2018, it earned him an invitation to Chris Paul’s Elite Guard Camp, a high honor, according to the Memphis Grizzlies’ superstar.
Morant opened the sophomore year on a high note, scoring 26 points and 11 assists in his season debut against Wright State.
The young superstar went on to post 29 points, 12 assists, and 13 rebounds. Morant’s winning streak continued throughout 2018, becoming a turning point in his life.
- Scored a season record of 38 points in a single game
- Propelled himself to the first overall selection list in the 2019 NBA draft.
- Named to the top 25 contenders for the John R. Wooden Award.
- He broke the school’s record for the most assist during a game with 18 assists
- Set a new personal record with 40 points, five steals, and 11 assists and shooting 21-of-21 free throws.
- Crushed OVC’s record for the most consecutive free throws in a game
- It became the first NCAA Division 1 play in two decades to tally 40 points in a single game.
- He broke the school’s 25-year single-season assists record of 212 points, set in 1997.
- Became the 46th play in Murray state to score 1,000 points
- He posted the highest single-season assists to break OVC’s 32-year-old record.
- Named OVC play of the year
- Set a new record by becoming the first NCAA player to post 20 points and ten assists per game in one season.
Despite Morant’s exemplary performance propelling Murray State to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, they lost to Florida State during the second round. Ja Morant announced he was forgoing his last two seasons of collegiate basketball and declared for the NBA draft.
Ja Morant’s Professional Basketball Career
Memphis Grizzlies picked Ja Morant as their second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft in a two-year contract worth $7.25 million.
Ja Morant’s Rookie Year – 2019 to 2020
Jamel Morant made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, against the Miami Heat. The Grizzlies lost 101 – 120, but Ja Morant hit the ground running with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal.
Barely a month later, Ja Morant recorded his first NBA double-double and scored a gaming-winning layup over the Charlotte Hornets. He finished the game with 23 points and 11 assists in the 117-115 victory.
Ja quickly followed that up with his first triple-double in the NBA on February 9, 2020, and was selected for the Rising Stars Game, where the winning streak continued.
Ja Morant towered over other rookies, averaging 17.8 points and 7.1 assists per game. He closed the season with 1,138 points. Consequently, Ja Morant was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and scooped the NBA All-Rookie First Team honor.
Ja Morant’s Playoff Appearance
Ja Morant’s winning streak continued well into 2020, closing the year with a career-high 44 points on December 23, despite the Grizzlies losing to San Antonio Spurs. On May 21, 2021, Morant led Memphis to a closely-fought win over the Golden State Warrior. Ja posted 35 points, six rebounds, and six assists to secure the Grizzlies a postseason berth, the first in four seasons.
Two days later, Ja Morant helped the Grizzlies upset the top-seeded Utah Jazz during this NBA playoff debut. He posted an impressive 26 points, four rebounds, and four assists during the narrow 112- 109 victory in Game 1.
Morant upped the antes during Game 2 by posting 47 points and seven assists. However, the Grizzlies lost the game 141-129 and were eliminated from the series after playing five games.
Ja Morant’s First All-NBA and All-Star Selections
Ja Morant’s stellar performance continued well into 2021, and he posted a season-high 41 points to help the lakers trounce the Lakers 104-99. He also made a career-record six three-pointers during the game. He posted 41 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals to beat San Antonio Spurs 118-110 on January 26, 2022.
Ja Morant was named to this first NBA All-Star game on January 26, 2022. He made his NBA All-Star debut on January 27, 2022, where he led Grizzlies to triumph over Utah Jazz with a hard-fought 199-109 win. Morant posted his 4th triple-double, scoring 30 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists.
By now, Ja Morant was a Grizzlies superstar with a horde of adoring fans, but he wasn’t done breaking records. He scored 46 points to hand the Grizzlies a win over Chicago Bulls while breaking the team’s most points in a game record. Ja broke the record Mike Miller set in 1997, earning an iconic status with Grizzlies fans.
- Morant beat his already exemplary performance with a jaw-dropping 52 points, handling the Grizzlies to a narrow win over San Antonio Spurs.
- Ja led the Grizzlies to their first-ever Southwest Division title while tying the franchise record of 56 wins.
- Ja Morant was named the NBA Most Improved Player Award for his troubles and exemplary performance.
During the 2022 playoffs, Morant scored 16 points, ten assists, and ten rebounds. He made history by posting the first triple-double in Grizzlies’ postseason history. Morant also handed the Grizzlies the win in Game 5 by scoring a game-winning layup with one second on the clock.
On May 3, 2022, Jo Morant joined Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on one short exclusive list. He became the third player in NBA’s playoffs history to post multiple 45-point games before turning 23.
Ja Morant’s Net Worth
Ja Morant was the second overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, signing a $7.25 million contract for two years in 2019. Two years later, the point guard signed a five-year extension with the Memphis Grizzlies on July 6, 2022. The new deal drastically pads Ja Morant’s net worth because it includes $193 million in guaranteed earnings. If the Grizzlies point guard is selected to an All-NBA team, the deal will increase to $231 million.
According to Spotrac, Ja Morant has earned more than $27.5 million dollars since joining the NBA in 2019. So far, the Memphis Grizzlies Star earns about $9 million a year.
Who is KK Dixon, Kaari Jaidyn Morant’s Mother?
Born Karen Dixon, KK Dixon, is the mother to Ja Morant’s daughter, Kaari Jaidyn Morant. Previously, she was Ja Morant’s girlfriend, but the couple is no longer an item. Dixon made their relationship public in 2018 through a post on Instagram.
Ja Morant’s ex-girlfriend is the mother of his only child, Kaari Morant, who has become a media sensation. She’s a popular social media personality and an Arkansas native. Karen Dixon is the middle child of DeShannon and Christal Dixon.
She was born in 2,000 in Antoine, Arkansas, and she has an older brother, Tyrik Dixon, and a younger sister, Braylee Dixon. Tyrik, KK Dixon’s older brother, is a basketball player for the Missouri State Bear.
KK Dixon is a student at the Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she reportedly plays volleyball and basketball. It’s unclear when things between Ja Morant and his ex-girlfriend turned sour, but they are no longer an item.
The couple unfollowed each other on Instagram, but they seem to maintain a cordial relationship. They share custody of the adorable daughter Kaari, but she lives full-time with her superstar dad. The parents manage young Kaari’s Instagram account jointly and constantly upload her photos on their accounts.
After her ordeal with preeclampsia, KK Dixon became a preeclampsia advocate. She joined the preeclampsia foundation in 2020 to raise global awareness. She’s passionate about helping other young mothers learn about life-threatening conditions and take adequate preventive measures.
Who is Tee Morant, Kaari Jaidyn’s Grandfather?
Ja Morant’s daughter enjoys the love of a doting father and an adoring grandfather. The young Kaari often attends a Grizzlies game in the company of her granddad, Tee Morant. But who is Tee Morant?
Tee Morant is Ja Morant’s father and a loving grandfather to his daughter, Jaidyn Morant. Tee is married to Ja Morant’s mother, and together they have two children, Ja Morant, and his younger sister. Ja credits his father for introducing him to the beloved sport and teaching him the winning ways.
The suave and stylish Tee Morant shot to the national spotlight in 2016 when an emotional Ja Morant expressed his gratitude. The Grizzlies second pick thanked his dad for “everything he has done for me.” Tee Morant stood by his son, dressed to the nines, looking like his doppelganger, Usher Raymond.
Since then, Tee Morant has become a courtside celebrity. The proud and supportive father is a courtside fixture during the Grizzlies games. The sociable granddad is often seen jesting with basketball players, but he’s not there simply for a good time.
Tee Morant attends the games to support his son, Ja Morant, who has since credited him with his success. Ja Morant has a great relationship with this father. Jamal calls his dad his first coach and his harshest critic, who helps to keep him humble and grounded while pushing him to do better.
Tee Morant knows a thing or two about basketball, having played semi-professionally for Claflin University. He reportedly participated in an NBA camp in Dallas that was a tryout for free agents. Unfortunately, Tee Morant was sad to learn that scouts were only interested in players that were 6′ 8′ or taller.
Tee Morant played basketball semi-professionally and was considering going to play pro basketball overseas when his wife Jamie fell pregnant. He shelved his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. He chose to become a barber and provide for his family. Today, Tee Morant is a proud father to an NBA superstar and a doting grandfather to an adorable three-year-old Kaari Jaidyn.
Tee Morant goes way back with the legendary Ray Allen since they were high school teammates.
Is Kaari Jaidyn Next NBA Star in the Morant Family?
Coming from athletic parents on both sides and introduced early into the game, the odd might be in young Kaari’s favor. It seems everyone in Kaari’s life is pro-basketball. If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, we might be witnessing a star in the making.
