Ja Morant’s crazy story of how a bag of Doritos led him to 

Ja Morant is widely regarded as one of the most electrifying high-flyers in basketball, known for his fearless attacks on the rim and highlight-reel dunks. Before making his mark in the NBA, Morant played college basketball at Murray State, where he emerged as a dynamic talent. In 2019, he was selected second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, quickly becoming a franchise cornerstone and a fan favorite.

Throughout his career, Morant has earned numerous accolades, including an All-NBA selection, the Rookie of the Year award, and the Most Improved Player honor. However, his journey to stardom might not have happened if not for a chance encounter—his former coach discovered him purely by accident while on a trip to the concession stand, proving that fate sometimes plays a crucial role in shaping greatness.

Ja Morant’s journey to basketball stardom took an unexpected turn, all thanks to a fateful trip for Doritos.

Hoping to gain exposure, Morant entered a two-day tournament, but he didn’t make the final roster. Instead, he played in an auxiliary gym, away from the main court where most scouts were focused. It was there that Murray State assistant coach James Kane, originally scouting another player, happened to hear basketballs bouncing while searching for a snack. Curious, he peeked inside and saw Morant in action.

“Just a few minutes of watching Ja, you just knew he was special,” Kane later recalled. “I called my boss right away and said, ‘You’ve got to come up here to see this kid.’”

That chance encounter set Morant on the path to Murray State, where he became a college sensation before making his mark as one of the NBA’s brightest stars.

The next day, Morant visited Murray State’s campus, and that night, he was offered a scholarship. Matt McMahon, who was the head coach at Murray State at the time, had this to say about his first impression of Ja:

“I was just blown away by his total game,” McMahon said.

Morant is now regarded as the future of the NBA, but had it not been for that bag of chips, none of his recognition or popularity would have come to fruition.