Ja Morant, Nike, Kool-Aid reunited for Ja 3 sneaker collaboration

A collaboration between Nike Basketball and Kool-Aid is continuing for a second consecutive year, further expanding one of the more unusual athlete-brand partnerships in basketball footwear.

The brands are teaming up again with Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to introduce the Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 3 sneaker.

This marks the second straight year Morant has been featured in the collaboration after Nike and Kool-Aid released a Ja 2 version last year.

The sneaker draws inspiration from Morant’s childhood memories of drinking his mother’s Kool-Aid.

Mismatched colorways have become a familiar theme throughout Morant’s signature line, and the Ja 3 continues that trend. The pink left shoe represents pink lemonade, while the lemon-yellow right shoe is inspired by lemon-lime flavor.

“The Ja 2 Kool-Aid went crazy, so we already knew we had to run it back for the 3s and take it up another level,” Morant said in a statement. “Obviously, Kool-Aid has been part of my life since I was a kid — that’s family, that’s culture, that’s real memories.

"And this one hit different ’cause it’s even more personal. When I was talking with Nike about the shoe, my mom came up with the idea to do a Pink Lemonade and Lemon Lime colorway, and it just clicked. So yeah … Ma Dukes spoke on this one. And I hope this shoe means something special for moms and families out there too.”

A Nike x Kool-Aid collaboration that started with the Ja 2 will carryover to the Ja 3 sneaker

The Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 3 will be a limited release beginning May 20 through the SNKRS app and at select retailers nationwide. Fans can go on the app beginning May 13 for additional sign-up details.

Morant was heralded as Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z signature athlete when he debuted the Ja 1 on Christmas Day 2022. He is now on his third signature model, with the Ja 4 set to release this fall.

The Ja 3 has arguably been Morant’s most successful sneaker because of its wide-ranging popularity for both style and on-court performance. Its visibility across the NBA this season has strengthened Morant’s standing in the competitive signature shoe market.