Tee Morant: Everything to Know About Ja Morant’s Father

Tee Morant is best known as the father of NBA star Ja Morant. But Tee loved basketball long before his son became famous. He had dreams of going far in the game himself. His life changed when family became his main focus.

Tee later worked as a barber for many years. At the same time, he used his basketball skills to teach Ja. He trained his son from a young age. He was tough on him and always pushed him to get better.

Today, Tee Morant is also a well-known face at basketball games. Fans know him for his courtside style and strong support for Ja. In this article, we will look at his early life, basketball years, family, work, and the key role he played in Ja’s story.

Who Is Tee Morant?

Tee Morant is the father of Ja Morant. His full name is widely reported as Temetrius Jamel Morant. His son also has the first name Temetrius, though almost everyone knows him simply as Ja.

Tee is not a former NBA player, but basketball has been a big part of his life. He played when he was young and later tried to take the game further. That gave him useful skills when it was time to teach his own children.

After Ja reached the NBA, Tee became famous in his own way. He often appeared at Memphis Grizzlies games. His sunglasses, clothes, jokes, and big reactions made him easy for fans to notice. Still, his story started many years before those courtside moments.

Tee Morant’s Early Life

Tee Morant’s exact birth details are not clearly confirmed by a major public record. Some online reports give November 15, 1978 as his birthday. If that date is correct, he is 47 years old in September 2026 and will turn 48 in November.

Tee grew up with a strong love for sports. Basketball became a major part of his younger years. He spent many hours playing the game and working on his skills. At that time, he had no idea that his future son would one day become an NBA star.

Some reports about Tee’s early school years do not fully agree. Because of this, it is best to be careful with small details about his childhood. What is much clearer is that he became a good basketball player and wanted to see how far the game could take him.

Tee Morant profile summary and bio

Tee Morant’s Basketball Years

Before people knew Tee Morant as Ja’s father, he was a basketball player himself. He played college basketball at Claflin University in South Carolina. He took the game seriously and hoped it could become more than just a school sport.

After college, Tee continued looking for ways to play at a higher level. Reports say he went to basketball camps and also had playing time outside the United States. But he never played an official NBA game. So it would not be right to call him a former NBA player.

Tee has also been linked to NBA great Ray Allen during their younger basketball years. This part of his story is often shared online. The bigger point is simple. Tee knew basketball well before Ja was born, and that knowledge later became very useful.

Why Tee Morant Gave Up His Basketball Dream

Tee Morant had hopes of going further in basketball. Then his life changed. His wife, Jamie, became pregnant with Ja. Tee now had a family to think about, and making money became more important than chasing a hard sports dream.

He chose to step away from his basketball plans and focus on home. This is a key part of his story. Tee did not know what would happen years later. He was simply making a choice that he felt was right for his family.

His own past also changed the way he later taught Ja. Tee has said he did not give his own dream everything he could have. Because of that, he wanted his son to stay focused. He did not want Ja to make the same mistakes.

Tee Morant’s Years as a Barber

After his own basketball plans changed, Tee found steady work as a barber. Reports say he worked at Precision Cuts for about 20 years. This was his normal life long before fans began seeing him sitting courtside at NBA games.

People around the barber shop also watched Ja grow. One story says Ja was already shooting at a regular basketball hoop when he was about four years old. He was small, but he could make shots. Those early signs gave the family hope.

Years later, Tee gave Ja a haircut before his son headed into a new part of his life. Ja was about to enter the NBA world, and Tee later left the barber shop. For people who had watched the family for years, it felt like the end of one chapter and the start of another.

Tee Morant’s Wife and Family

Tee Morant is married to Jamie Morant, and sports are not only part of Tee’s side of the family. Jamie was also an athlete. She played basketball as a point guard and played softball. She later studied at Claflin, the same school connected to Tee.

Tee and Jamie have two children. Their son, Ja Morant, was born on August 10, 1999. Their younger daughter, Teniya Morant, also grew up playing basketball. Tee has helped Teniya with the game too, showing that his role as a basketball dad did not stop with Ja.

The family has another generation now as well. Ja is the father of a daughter named Kaari Jaidyn Morant, which makes Tee a grandfather. Tee’s life has changed greatly over the years. He went from chasing his own basketball dream to watching his children build dreams of their own.

How Tee Morant Trained Ja Morant

Tee Morant did much more than take Ja to basketball games. He became one of his first teachers. When Ja was young, Tee worked with him often. He knew that natural skill was helpful, but he also believed that hard work had to come with it.

Ja did not always have the size of other young players. That did not stop Tee from pushing him. He made Ja work on his game and think faster on the court. Even when Ja played well, Tee could find something that still needed work.

That training became a major part of Ja’s story. He was not one of the biggest young stars in the country at first. Yet Tee kept working with him. The next part of their story shows just how tough Tee could be—and how that style helped push Ja toward college basketball and, later, the NBA.

Tee Morant’s Tough Style as a Father

Tee Morant was not the kind of father who gave Ja praise after every good game. He wanted his son to stay hungry. Even when Ja played well, Tee often told him there was more work to do.

His tough style came from his own past. Tee felt he had not given his basketball dream everything he could. So, when he trained Ja, he wanted his son to stay focused. He did not want him to waste his talent or lose sight of his goal.

Jamie Morant used a different style. She often gave Ja words that built his confidence. Tee pushed him harder, while Jamie reminded him to believe in himself. In this way, both parents gave Ja something he needed.

Tee Morant and Ja’s Road to the NBA

Ja Morant was not always seen as a future NBA star. During his high school years, bigger names often got more attention. Tee Morant did not let that bring his son down. Instead, he used it as another reason for Ja to work harder.

Ja later joined Murray State and quickly made people notice him. His game grew in a big way during college. In the 2019 NCAA tournament, he even recorded a triple-double against Marquette. Suddenly, the player who had once been easy to miss was getting national attention.

The biggest moment came in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies picked Ja second overall. He was not a second-round pick, as some online stories wrongly say. For Tee, it was a special moment. Years of training had helped his son reach basketball’s biggest stage.

Tee Morant’s Bond With Ja Morant

Basketball has always been a big part of the bond between Tee and Ja. Tee was a father, but he was also a teacher. He spent years showing Ja how to play, work hard, and deal with pressure.

That bond did not end when Ja reached the NBA. Tee continued going to games and supporting his son. He also kept his tough style. NBA fame did not mean Ja suddenly received easy praise from his dad.

Their family has also faced hard times in the public eye. Ja has faced criticism during his NBA years, and people have sometimes questioned Tee’s role as a father. Still, Ja is an adult, and Tee cannot make every choice for him. Their story shows that parenting does not become simple just because a child becomes famous.

Tee Morant’s Courtside Fame and Usher Moment

Tee Morant soon became one of the easiest NBA dads to spot. He often sat close to the court at Memphis Grizzlies games. His sunglasses, chains, clothes, and big reactions helped him stand out.

Then fans noticed something funny. Many thought Tee looked like R&B star Usher. The joke became so popular that Usher joined Tee courtside during Game 5 of the Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves playoff series in April 2022.

The moment became even funnier because both men wore black shirts, sunglasses, and chains. During the game, the arena showed them during its “Lookalike Cam.” Tee and Usher laughed as the crowd cheered. Tee later joked online that Usher was his “twin.”

Tee Morant’s Life Today in 2026

In 2026, Tee Morant is still best known as Ja Morant’s father. But his own story is now familiar to many basketball fans. He went from playing basketball himself to working as a barber and helping train his children.

Tee is also a father to Teniya and a grandfather to Ja’s daughter, Kaari. Basketball remains a big part of the Morant family. Tee has helped Teniya with her game too, just as he spent years working with Ja.

Some websites give numbers for Tee Morant’s net worth, but there is no trusted public source that confirms an exact amount. His current full-time job is also not clearly known. What is clear is that his public life remains closely tied to his family and basketball.

(FAQs)

How old is Tee Morant, and when is his birthday?

Tee Morant’s exact birthday is not officially confirmed. Some sites report November 15, 1978, which would make him 47 years old in September 2026. His college records do confirm he graduated from Claflin in 1998.

What is Tee Morant’s net worth?

Tee Morant’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Some websites give estimates, but the numbers do not agree. So, it is safer not to treat any exact amount as fact.

How tall is Tee Morant?

Tee Morant’s exact height is also not confirmed by a strong source. Some websites list him at about 5 feet 10 inches, while others give very different numbers. This is why his true height remains unclear.

Who is Tee Morant’s wife?

Tee Morant is married to Jamie Morant. They have two children, Ja Morant and Teniya Morant. Jamie also has a sports background and played basketball and softball when she was young.

Did Tee Morant play basketball?

Yes. Tee Morant played basketball at Claflin University and was a three-time all-conference player. He was even named his conference’s Player of the Year in 1996–97. He later put family first and helped train Ja.

Final Thoughts

Tee Morant’s story did not begin when Ja entered the NBA. He had his own love for basketball years earlier. He played the game, hoped to go further, and later changed his plans when family became his main focus.

He spent many years working as a barber while helping Ja grow as a player. His training could be tough, but Tee wanted his son to stay focused. Ja went from being overlooked by some scouts to becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Today, Tee Morant is a father, grandfather, former player, former longtime barber, and one of basketball’s most well-known dads. His journey is closely tied to Ja’s success, but it also has a story of its own—a story about family, hard work, and passing a love for basketball from one generation to the next.

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