Ja Morant’s signature line continues to pivot boldly into personality, and the newly surfaced Nike Ja 3 ‘Ja Raffe’ might be its most playful instalment yet.
The colourway taps into one of Ja’s more wholesome origin stories. Back in 2020, the Memphis Zoo named a baby giraffe ‘Ja Raffe’ in honour of the Grizzlies star – and ever since, the long-necked legend has quietly become part of Morant’s sneaker universe. We’ve seen the theme pop up on earlier PE pairs, but now it appears to be making the leap onto the Ja 3.
This latest version features a giraffe-inspired spotted upper set against a sandy beige base, with rich brown accents grounding the look through the midsole. Bright pink Swoosh hits add a cheeky twist, nodding to the animal’s tongue and giving the shoe a hit of contrast that feels very on-brand for Ja’s expressive style of play.
Performance-wise, the Ja 3 dials things up with a full-length ZoomX foam midsole – Nike’s most energetic cushioning platform – delivering serious bounce and responsiveness underfoot. The setup is housed within a stabilising cupsole frame to keep movements controlled without dulling the pop. Underneath, a zoned traction pattern inspired by Ja’s signature bulldog crossover is engineered for aggressive changes of direction, gripping hard on quick stops and sudden bursts.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether the 'Ja Raffe' will see a full retail release or remain a player-exclusive flex. Either way, it’s another reminder that Ja’s signature series isn’t afraid to have a little fun.
For more on the Ja 3, check out this Swarovski remix – complete with a set of grills!
