When talking about Ja Morant, perspective is really everything. He’s going to miss another 25 games to start the season after the antics to close last year. Hurting his NBA stats and his team’s chances at a strong start. They decided Tyus Jones wasn’t going to be the No.2 PG anymore and shipped him into what is a better situation for himself. As a result, the Grizzlies may now be even worse off without Morant.
There will be no new Ja Morant news for the next few weeks. As he spends time away from the team and tries to get himself right. NBA betting trends with regard to success in Memphis will plummet. Nobody is going to put money down to back any positive thoughts there. The NBA injury report has been a big enough problem for them in recent years. And legal troubles are not far behind. Dillon Brooks is gone. Ja is suspended. Tyus is gone.
We’re shifting the conversation to Ja Morant sponsors. Will they keep him around? Is he going to need to find new brands to keep him around? We’re looking at more than just NBA picks.
Odds to Lose Sponsors
There are two major sponsors associated with Ja: Nike and Powerade. Both of those are major, well-known players in the industry. The jerseys have been sponsored by Nike in the NBA for the past several seasons. And he is one of many players on their roster. The company doesn’t stand to lose much as one of the Ja Morant sponsors if they decided to cut ties with him. They have so many high-profile clients that it would just be a small blip on the radar for them.
And with regard to Powerade, there is never a shortage of electrifying players ready to step into big roles. Thinking about the marketing potential of the 2023 rookie class, plenty can happen here. NBA odds that Ja Morant loses one of these two big companies as a sponsor this season sit at +250. If you’re confident he can defy the odds and keep his sponsors happy, -400 is the listed odds for not losing them at all and hanging on.
If Ja Morant sponsors did decide to pull out, it would not make him the first to lose his chances due to off-court behavior. But thinking about it in larger terms: If a player is waving a gun around in the public eye and online like it’s nothing, is that something they can live with? In a league where so many of the fans are young kids. This would be setting a pretty dangerous example. The players are role models as much as athletes. And behavior like that could continue to contribute to some other things going on.
What to Expect from Nike and Powerade
Starting off with Nike, the decision they should make should be the one that distances themselves from the problem. Why would they want a client who can’t be trusted? The entire campaign was a wash for Morant, and ended with him finally getting back on the court. Of course, though, the team got trounced by the seventh-seeded Lakers. It was a bad look not only for Morant, but for so many in Memphis who got the team to the second spot.
With that said, he doesn’t seem to be inspiring the youth of today all that much. The move should be to cut ties, and if he shows for an extended period of time that he can keep things under control, you can keep him around.
And as for Powerade, the same should be true. Thinking about what it means to be part of that brand, he certainly does not embody the values. The last year has been rough for Morant, and his dad has been as much in the spotlight as he is. Having a fight with a well-known pundit while sitting courtside is not something you’d expect to see from the father of a well-respected player.
Once everything is sorted out and it’s become clear that Morant can act accordingly. He should be able to have a shot at new sponsorships.
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