Memphis Grizzlies point guard and Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant’s dad revealed his ties to a Celtic great.
Rookie of the Year candidate and Memphis Grizzlies point guard wunderkind Ja Morant has longstanding ties to the Boston Celtics, but before you start getting ideas in your head about getting the hyper-athletic floor general in green and white, let’s be completely clear — those ties are through his dad, Tee Morant.
Tee played professionally himself, and as a native of South Carolina, just so happened to come up with a particular flamethrower of a shooting guard who would later attend the University of Connecticut, and eventually be traded to the Celtics in 2007.
By now even casual fans likely have guessed who that sharpshooter was, none other than Banner 17 stalwart Ray Allen.
The two had played together in Dalzell, South Carolina at Allen’s alma mater, Hillcrest High.
“I was doin’ a little hoopin’ back in my days,” explained the elder Morant to Heavy.com’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
“Now don’t get it twisted, but at the same time me and the great Ray Allen; we won state championships in Sumter – Dalzell, Hillcrest you know, the greatest school ever…and my joint was pretty much sacrificing what I had and putting it into my son and making sure that he took it further than I did.”
Tee, a wing who modeled his game on his idol Dominique Wilkins, reportedly narrowly missed out on landing with an NBA roster himself, instead playing overseas until his son Ja was on the way.
Surprisingly, he didn’t see the NBA in Jesus Shuttlesworth’s future (as Ray was sometimes called), but credits that to his own sheltered background growing up in the Carolina woods.
Through Allen many years later, Morant also got to meet Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz.
“Actually, Ray was unveiling a computer lab,” explained Tee Morant. “So he invited us, and we went down there and he introduced Ja to the kids in the computer lab and we had a good time.”
“Then we went to Ray’s restaurant and ate and then after that, Ray took us to Big Papi house because Ray and Big Papi were cool. So Big Papi invited us with open arms talking with us and then Ray and Big Papi had a triangle session with Ray where they was telling him different stuff that he needs to look for, different things as far as being a leader, being a professional and all”
“That joint did me all the good,” added Morant.
While there’s little chance of the younger Morant suiting up for the Celtics any time in the near-term future, it’s still pretty cool to hear about such connections.
And while this season’s Red Sox are doing their best impression of last season’s Celtics (and then some), Morant’s story is a reminder of better times — and stronger ties — between the two New England juggernauts of yore.
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