Nike gave sneaker fans a surprise on Wednesday afternoon, shock-dropping the Ja 3 “Welcome to the Garden” online after what had looked like a true player-exclusive moment.
Ja Morant first wore the colorway against the New York Knicks on November 11, 2025, and at the time it felt like a tribute that might stay locked away for good. A lot has shifted since then. The Knicks went on to win the NBA Championship, New York-themed sneaker releases followed all summer, and Morant was traded from Memphis to Portland.
Now the shoe is out in the wild, though Nike is listing it simply as “Garden” on its website. The release date is Wednesday, July 15, and the performance model is available in adult sizes for $135 on Nike.com.
The Ja 3 has already become one of Morant’s biggest hits, but it’s still easy to find in most standard looks. If this version ends up being tougher to track down, shoppers can also look to resale platforms like StockX and GOAT.
Visually, the shoe leans hard into the New York theme. The upper comes in Malachite, a clear nod to the Statue of Liberty, while black claw marks cut across the design. Nike and Ja branding show up on the sides in a white spray-paint style, and the insoles bring in blue and orange to echo the Knicks game.
One detail from Morant’s on-court pair did not make the jump to the retail version: the New York City Parks and Recreation leaf logo. That would have required an official collaboration.
Under the hood, the Ja 3 is built with full-length Hybrid ZoomX foam, a foam sockliner, padded collars, and a traction pattern covered in mini Ja logos. The mesh upper keeps things breathable, which also gives Nike plenty of room to play with the design language.
The shoe’s popularity has not erased the criticism around its performance, though. The model has drawn mixed reviews from athletes and consumers, including rapper 2 Chainz.
Nike also introduced Morant’s fourth signature sneaker earlier this month, but the Ja 3 still leaves a mark. It brought some needed buzz to the basketball shoe conversation, and now this long-rumored colorway finally has a public release to match the moment.
In Other News...
Knicks Just Got A New Eastern Conference Warning Sign
The Sixers have suddenly turned a major Eastern Conference conversation into a much bigger one, landing Jaylen Brown to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. For a Knicks team trying to climb the same ladder, that kind of star power changes the feel of the race in a hurry, especially when the new group already has the kind of scoring and versatility that can stress a defense in a playoff series.
Kevin Durant added to the buzz by publicly calling Philadelphias new look dangerous and saying he was happy for Brown, a reaction that only sharpened the attention around the move. The bigger question for New York is how this reshaped Sixers roster will look once the games start to matter most, because the East just added another contender with a trio built to make life difficult for everyone else. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Sit At Center Of Two Massive East Storylines
The Eastern Conference picture around the Knicks keeps shifting in ways that matter well beyond one offseason. Jalen Brunsons revelation that he played through a wrist injury that later needed surgery adds another layer to the run New York just made, especially after a playoff series that already carried so much weight in the East. Around that, the Cavaliers are not only dealing with their own postseason ripple effects, but also sitting near the center of a leaguewide conversation that has quickly become impossible to ignore.
Mike Ganseys move into the Sixers top job and the immediate push to reshape the roster with Jaylen Brown has already changed the temperature in the conference, while LeBron James pending free agency decision is looming over every contender watching the East. The Cavaliers, Sixers and Heat are all being mentioned as teams with interest, which only adds to the sense that the next few days could alter the balance of power again. For the Knicks, it is another reminder that finishing one season is only the start of the next test. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Have One Big Question Behind Towns And Drummond
The Knicks have already addressed one of the biggest holes in their frontcourt by bringing in Andre Drummond on a one-year deal, but the work around the center spot does not feel finished. After losing Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti from last seasons championship group, New York is still looking at ways to add size, insurance and a little more defensive presence behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Drummond.
One name that keeps surfacing is Trey Jemison III, who spent last season on a two-way contract and showed enough in limited action to keep him in the conversation. His appeal is simple enough for a roster built on depth: he can protect the rim, rebound and give the Knicks another big body if injuries or foul trouble hit, even if he is not expected to be part of the regular rotation. [Read more 🡒]