Sports

NBA star gives gifts to fan, 11, whose autographed basketball was stolen

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant gifted 11-year-old Ellie Hughes a pair of Ja 1 sneakers and an autographed basketball jersey after his 38-point performance in a win against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Hughes reportedly had her autographed basketball stolen at Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Morant told Hughes that she’s only one of a few people in the world who have the shoe. The Grizzlies All-Star also gave away a pair of Ja 1 sneakers to a kid at an earlier Grizzlies game this season.

‘After seeing what happened to them on social media, I just felt terrible,’ Morant said. ‘… To have that (basketball) taken away from you, I felt was unacceptable.’

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Hughes was speechless after Morant handed her the shoes and jersey. Morant also gifted her two courtside tickets after he found her family when hemade a post looking for them on Twitter.

When asked if she was excited to have the shoes, Hughes only said ‘yes’ while taking in the moment.

‘That’s the classic example of speechless,’ said Morant’s father, Tee Morant.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY