Tee Morant is best known as the father of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. He is a former college basketball player who traded his own hoop dreams for a backyard coaching role that shaped one of the NBA’s most exciting guards.
Here is everything confirmed about his life, career, and family.
Who is Tee Morant?
Tee Morant, born Temetrius Jamel Morant, is a former basketball player and current barber from Dalzell, South Carolina. He is widely recognized as the father of NBA point guard Ja Morant.
Tee played high school basketball at Hillcrest High alongside future Hall of Famer Ray Allen. He then continued his career at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
His path to professional basketball ended when his wife became pregnant with their first child. Tee chose to stay home, and that choice became a central part of his son’s origin story.
Early Life of Tee Morant
Tee Morant was born on November 15, 1978, in the United States. According to Legit.ng, his mother is Saundra E. Dawson, and his brothers are named Mar Cell and Travis Wiley.
He grew up playing basketball and attended Hillcrest High School in Dalzell, South Carolina. There, he became teammates with Ray Allen, who went on to a Hall of Fame NBA career.
Details about Tee’s early education beyond high school and Claflin University remain limited in reliable sources. He is African American and holds American nationality.
Tee Morant Age
Tee Morant turns 47 in November 2026, based on his November 15, 1978 birth date. He was in his early twenties when Ja was born in 1999.
That narrow gap in age helped the two build an unusually close bond. Tee has described training alongside his son almost as a peer rather than a distant parent.
Tee Morant Career
Tee Morant played basketball for Claflin University after high school. He also joined free agency camps and briefly explored a semi-pro opportunity in Colombia, according to The Athletic.
However, payment issues with that South American team cut his stint short. Around the same time, he learned that his wife, Jamie, was pregnant with their son.
That news changed his plans entirely. Tee gave up his playing ambitions and settled in Dalzell, where he became a barber to support his growing family.
He then shifted his competitive energy into coaching. Tee trained Ja in their backyard starting when the boy was around three years old, using tools like tractor tires to build jumping power.
Tee Morant Wife
Tee Morant is married to Jamie Shanks Morant, a Georgia native. The two met at Claflin University, where Jamie played point guard in high school and softball in college.
Jamie graduated from Claflin in 1999 with a degree in biology. She gave birth to their son just months later.
Together, Tee and Jamie raised two children: Ja and a daughter, Teniya, born in 2005. Teniya has also competed in basketball, playing for Hillcrest Middle School in Dalzell.
Jamie is credited with the family mantra “beneath no one,” which Ja later had tattooed on his arm. Tee, meanwhile, handled most of the hands-on training in their backyard.
NBA star son: Ja Morant
Ja Morant was born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina. He made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, after Memphis drafted him second overall that year.
Morant went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020. He later became the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists in a single season while at Murray State.
Tee remains a constant courtside presence at Grizzlies games. In November 2025, a viral video captured Kevin Durant jokingly telling Tee that Ja “don’t wanna be here” and to “enjoy your last weekend,” a jab tied to swirling trade speculation around Ja’s future with Memphis, as reported by Sports Illustrated and Complex.
Ja has said his father shaped him more than any single basketball influence. He credited their backyard training sessions for building the instincts he still relies on in the league.
Tee Morant Net Worth
Tee Morant’s net worth is reportedly around $5 million, according to Legit.ng and other entertainment outlets. This figure has not been independently confirmed through financial disclosures.
His income reportedly comes from his barbering business and past involvement in basketball. So the exact figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified sum.
By contrast, his son Ja Morant’s fortune is on a different scale entirely. Ja signed a max contract extension with the Grizzlies worth tens of millions of dollars.
Physical Appearance
Tee Morant stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches, or 178 centimeters, according to Legit.ng. He reportedly weighs around 154 pounds, or 70 kilograms.
He is often seen courtside in sharp, colorful outfits during Grizzlies games. His energetic reactions during matches have made him a recognizable figure among NBA fans.
Tee keeps a low profile off camera and does not maintain a personal social media presence. Most public images of him come from broadcasts and fan-shot courtside videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Tee Morant?
Tee Morant was born on November 15, 1978, making him 47 years old as of late 2026.
What is Tee Morant’s job?
Tee Morant works as a barber in the Dalzell, South Carolina area. He previously played college basketball at Claflin University.
Does Tee Morant have other children besides Ja?
Yes. Tee and his wife Jamie also have a daughter named Teniya Morant, born in 2005.
Did Tee Morant play in the NBA?
No. Tee played college basketball and briefly considered playing overseas, but he never played in the NBA.
What is Tee Morant’s net worth?
His net worth is reportedly around $5 million, though this figure is not independently verified.
The Bottom Line
Tee Morant’s own basketball career ended at the college level. Yet the discipline he built on that path carried directly into how he raised his son.
His backyard training sessions with Ja, paired with his wife Jamie’s steady encouragement, became the foundation of an NBA career. Today he remains one of the league’s most recognizable sports parents.
Tee’s story shows how a redirected dream can still shape a legacy. He traded his own shot at the NBA for a barber’s chair and a front-row seat to his son’s success.
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