When you watch Ja Morant sky for a poster dunk over a seven-footer, your brain does some weird math. You look at him hanging in the air and think, "There is no way that guy is under 6'6"." But then he stands next to a referee or a wing player, and he looks... well, normal. Sorta.
The question of how tall is Ja Morant has been a moving target since he was a scrawny kid in South Carolina who couldn't even dunk until his senior year of high school. Seriously. The NBA’s most electric rim-attacker was a late bloomer who had to rely on a massive growth spurt just to get on the radar of mid-major colleges like Murray State.
The Official Number vs. The Eye Test
Right now, if you check the official NBA rosters for the 2025-26 season, Ja Morant is listed at 6 feet 2 inches.
It’s a solid number. But it hasn't always been the "truth." Back in 2019, when he was drafted second overall, plenty of scouting reports had him pegged at 6'3". Why the change? Basically, the NBA got strict. A few years back, the league started cracking down on "official" heights, requiring teams to measure players without shoes. Before that, everyone was adding an inch or two for their Nikes.
Honestly, that 6'2" measurement makes what he does even more ridiculous.
Think about it. He’s 174 pounds. He’s shorter than your average shooting guard. Yet, he leads the league in points in the paint almost every year he's healthy. He isn't out-muscling people; he's just using a combination of physics-defying verticality and a wingspan that most people ignore.
The Secret Weapon: Wingspan
Height is one thing, but reach is what actually matters on a basketball court. While Morant stands at 6'2", his wingspan is roughly 6 feet 7 inches.
That +5 "ape index" (the difference between height and wingspan) is why he can finish layups at angles that seem impossible. He can keep the ball away from shot-blockers because his arms are effectively as long as a player who is 6'6" or 6'7". It’s a massive advantage that allows him to "play big" while maintaining the speed of a smaller guard.
Why His Height Almost Cost Him a Career
It’s wild to think about now, but Ja was almost a "nobody" because he was too short.
In high school, he started out as a 5'9" freshman. He was talented, sure, but 5'9" guards are a dime a dozen in South Carolina. He grew to 6'0" by his junior year, but the big Division I programs weren't biting. They wanted the 6'4" "jumbo guards" that are so popular in the modern NBA.
He eventually hit that 6'2" mark at Murray State, and the rest is history. But that chip on his shoulder? That comes from being the "small guy" for most of his life.
How He Compares to Other Elite Guards
To put his size into perspective, let’s look at the other "floor generals" across the league:
- Steph Curry: Usually listed at 6'2" or 6'3". They are almost identical in stature, though Steph is a bit heavier now.
- Damian Lillard: Also around the 6'2" mark.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: This is where the gap shows. SGA is 6'6".
- Cade Cunningham: Another "jumbo" point guard at 6'6".
When Ja goes up against Shai or Cade, he is giving up four inches of height. Does he care? Clearly not. In fact, Morant often uses his lower center of gravity to get under the hips of taller defenders, making it harder for them to stay balanced when he drives.
The Physics of the 44-Inch Vertical
We can't talk about his height without talking about his hops.
Morant has a reported 44-inch vertical leap. When you add that to his 6'2" frame and his long arms, his "max reach" is actually higher than many centers who are 7 feet tall but can only jump a few inches off the ground.
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It’s not just about how tall he is standing still. It’s about how tall he is at the apex of his jump. When he’s at the top of his flight path, his head is often level with the rim (which is 10 feet high). That’s why he can look down into the cylinder on those alley-oops.
Actionable Takeaways for Evaluating Player Size
If you're trying to figure out if a player's listed height actually matters, keep these three things in mind:
- Check the "Without Shoes" Metric: Always look for the post-2019 NBA measurements. If a site says a guy is 6'4" but the NBA says 6'2", trust the league's official measurement.
- Look at Wingspan, Not Just Height: A 6'2" player with a 6'7" wingspan (like Ja) will always be more effective defensively and at the rim than a 6'4" player with a 6'4" wingspan.
- Center of Gravity: Smaller guards often have a "twitchiness" that taller players can't replicate. Ja’s ability to stop and start on a dime is a direct result of being 6'2" rather than 6'6".
Understanding how tall is Ja Morant really just highlights how much of an outlier he is. In a league that is getting taller and longer every year, he remains a "small" guard who dominates the most physical part of the game. He's proof that in basketball, your standing height is just a starting point—it's what you do with your reach and your bounce that determines your ceiling.
Next Steps for Fans:
To see these dimensions in action, watch a side-by-side film study of Morant versus a "jumbo" guard like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Pay attention to their "reach height" during contested layups rather than their standing height. You'll quickly see that Morant's effective playing size is much larger than the 6'2" listed on his ID card. Additionally, check the latest injury reports and roster updates on the official NBA site to see if his playing weight has shifted, as he has reportedly been working on adding "functional mass" to protect his frame during high-impact finishes.