You’ve seen the clip. It’s unavoidable if you spend more than five minutes on social media. A skinny, 6-foot-3 guard from South Carolina takes off from what looks like the dotted line, hangs in the air for an eternity, and basically tries to put a 7-footer into the basket along with the ball. When you search for a ja morant gif dunk, you aren't just looking for a basketball play. You’re looking for that specific hit of adrenaline that comes from watching someone defy physics.
Honestly, Ja Morant doesn't just dunk. He attempts to delete people from the history of the game.
Whether it's the legendary "baptism" of Jalen Smith or the time he seemingly teleported over Malik Beasley, Morant’s highlights are the currency of NBA Twitter. But there's a reason these GIFs have more staying power than your average highlight reel. It’s about the audacity. Most players his size are looking for a floater or a kick-out pass. Ja? He’s looking for a body.
The "Dunk of the Year" That Broke the Internet
On January 14, 2023, the Memphis Grizzlies were in Indianapolis. It was a Saturday night. In the third quarter, Morant got a head of steam on the left wing. He crossed over, saw a lane, and took off.
Pacers big man Jalen Smith, who stands 6-foot-10, made the brave (and ultimately regrettable) decision to contest the shot. Morant didn't just dunk on him. He cocked the ball back so far his elbow was nearly parallel with the rim, then hammered it home with a violence that made the Gainbridge Fieldhouse go silent for a split second before erupting.
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That ja morant gif dunk became an instant classic because of the "cock-back" motion. Most players need to be 6-foot-11 to pull that off. Morant did it while wearing his signature "Ja 1" shoes, which he later joked were the reason he could fly. Kevin Durant called it the "dunk of the year" on Twitter within minutes. It wasn't just a basket; it was a cultural event.
Why We Can't Stop Watching the Malik Beasley Poster
If the Jalen Smith dunk was about power, the Malik Beasley dunk in the 2022 Playoffs was about pure disrespect.
The Grizzlies were down 13 in the third quarter of Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The energy in the building was nervous. Then, Ja happened. He didn't just jump near Beasley; he literally jumped through him. The sheer extension of his arm at the peak of the jump is what makes the GIF version of this play so satisfying to loop.
- The Hang Time: Experts estimate Morant’s vertical leap is around 44 inches.
- The Momentum: He uses a "penultimate step" technique that allows him to convert horizontal speed into vertical lift better than almost anyone in league history.
- The Reaction: The Grizzlies bench usually reacts like they’ve just witnessed a crime, which only adds to the GIF-ability.
The Jakob Poeltl "Elbow Sandwich"
We have to talk about the San Antonio Spurs game on February 28, 2022. This was the night Ja dropped a career-high 52 points, but the points aren't what people remember. They remember him "catching a body" on Jakob Poeltl.
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Poeltl is a legitimate rim protector, a seven-footer who knows how to time a block. It didn't matter. Morant met him at the summit, took the contact, and still finished the slam. What’s wild about this specific ja morant gif dunk is that it happened in the same half where he hit a full-court buzzer-beater off a touchdown pass from Steven Adams.
It was arguably the greatest single-game highlight reel in the history of the Memphis franchise.
How to Find and Use the Best Ja Morant GIFs
If you're trying to find these to send to the "hoops" group chat, you've got options. GIPHY and Tenor are the obvious spots, but the best versions usually live on "NBA Twitter" (now X).
- Search for "Ja Morant Jalen Smith Every Angle." The baseline view shows just how high his head gets relative to the rim.
- Look for the "Slow-Mo" versions. The physics of his dunks are actually easier to appreciate when slowed down. You can see the way he adjusts his body in mid-air to avoid the block.
- Check the "Bench Reaction" edits. Sometimes the reaction from Steven Adams or Jaren Jackson Jr. is just as funny as the dunk itself.
The Science of the Leap: How Does He Do It?
Biomechanical analysts often point to Ja’s "block foot" technique. When he plants for a two-footed jump, he turns his toes slightly inward. This acts like a brake, halting his forward progress and snapping all that energy upward. It’s like hitting a ramp at 60 miles per hour.
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Most humans would break an ankle. Ja Morant uses it to become a viral sensation.
He also has incredible core strength. You’ll notice in almost every ja morant gif dunk that he doesn't just fall after the play. He often hangs on the rim or contorts his body to land safely. It’s a controlled explosion. He's not just jumping high; he’s navigating the air.
Actionable Insights for the Fans
If you want to keep up with the next viral Morant moment, follow the Grizzlies' official social media accounts or set alerts for "NBA Top 10." The man is a walking highlight.
To use these GIFs effectively in your own content or chats:
- Match the vibe: Use the Jalen Smith dunk for moments of total "ownage."
- Use the Beasley dunk: For when you're making a comeback or "stepping over" an obstacle.
- Save the Poeltl dunk: For when you've done something truly "insane" or "impossible."
The legend of the ja morant gif dunk isn't going anywhere. As long as he’s healthy and on the floor, he’s going to keep trying to jump over people who are much taller than him. And we’re going to keep hitting the "replay" button.
For the best quality, always look for "High Bitrate" or "HD" versions of these clips. Low-res GIFs don't do justice to the sheer height Morant reaches. Stick to official NBA sources or high-tier creators on Tenor to ensure the frame rate is smooth enough to see the ball actually leave his hand and crush the rim.