After watching his career and his reputation take a nosedive over the past three years, Ja Morant is ready to “start fresh” in Portland, writes Ben Golliver of ESPN. Speaking to a group of reporters Saturday at the Las Vegas Summer League, Morant insisted that he doesn’t deserve the trouble-making reputation he got in Memphis, sparked by a pair of gun-related suspensions and clashes with the coaching staff.

“What would I like cleared up? I think you know the answer to that. My image. [That] I’m a bad guy,” Morant said in his first public comments since being dealt to the Trail Blazers in late June. “I’m Ja. I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why, years later, that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since. If I was that guy, y’all wouldn’t be talking to me now. I wouldn’t be here.”

Morant was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023 and the on-court leader of a young Grizzlies team that seemed destined to become a title contender. He was also one of the NBA’s most popular players, captivating fans with his amazing athleticism and spectacular finishes at the rim.

However, things changed quickly after Morant received an eight-game suspension from the league in March 2023 for displaying a firearm on an Instagram livestream and then a 25-game ban to open the following season. He wound up playing 79 total games over the last three years while the core of the team around him slowly broke apart. By the time he was sent to Portland after months of trying to find a taker for his contract, which will pay him more than $87MM over the next two seasons, he was the last remaining member of Memphis’ young core.

The Grizzlies received Jerami Grant and Kris Murray in the deal, while Morant gets the chance to redefine himself in a different city.

“New home. New team. New organization,” he said. “I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja. It’s like starting all over again. … Over the years, I’ve grown a lot and learned a lot. My mindset changed. I go into things differently now. I feel more mature, and I’m ready to work.”

Morant said his “body feels great” after injuries limited him to 20 games last season. He also commented on teaming up with Blazers stars Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija, saying they’ll “most likely unlock new parts of my game, and I’ll do the same for them,” while adding that he’s willing to accept a reserve role if necessary.

Addressing the situation in Memphis, Morant said the city will “always be home for me.” He added that he has no resentment toward the organization and said he’s “still connected” with many of his former teammates.