Arena: Ja Morant Is A Superstar
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For a few years, the hard-nosed and beloved Memphis Grizzlies were one of the most competitive teams in the NBA. Year in and year out, they won close to 50 games and gave every team they faced in the playoffs a run for their money. They consistently battled against NBA Finals hopefuls and Western Conference contenders. One year they even made the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to make a Finals appearance and eventually age and injury caught up to their best players. This caused the organization to press the reset button and focus on a rebuild. In 2018 they drafted Jaren Jackson Jr., a 6’11” big from Michigan State that showed great two-way potential. While Jackson Jr. did show flashes of what he could be, Memphis needed a star to get back to their winning ways. In 2019, however, luck was on their side. They weren’t able to get the first pick in the 2019 draft but they did receive the second. While Duke sensation Zion Williamson went #1 overall to the Pelicans, the Grizzlies found themselves with the opportunity to draft Ja Morant, an explosive guard with All-Star potential from Murray State. Morant made headlines with jaw-dropping plays and an excellent sophomore season coming into the draft. Memphis decided to take a chance on Morant hoping he might be the star they were hoping to find. So far the pick has been a home run as Morant has become one of the best players in the league and is starting to become a household name. Just three years into his career he has surpassed expectations and his journey in becoming an NBA Star is just beginning.
Before he started to become a household name, barely anyone knew who Ja Morant was. According to ESPN’s Basketball Recruiting database, Morant was a nobody. The 6’3” point guard from Dalzell, South Carolina had no scout grade and wasn’t ranked at all, not even within the region. Morant only had one collegiate offer coming out of high school from Murray State, not exactly a basketball powerhouse when compared to Kentucky or other programs in the state. Despite being overlooked and undervalued Morant was motivated to make his presence known around the nation.
Morant began his freshman year at Murray State in 2017 where he averaged 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. He showed great athleticism by being able to grab a defensive rebound and finish on the other end in the blink of an eye. In half-court sets, he would drive into the rim and score with floaters and slick layups with either hand. On possessions where he had a free lane to the basket, Morant would rise above the rest and finish with thunderous dunks. Despite being 6’3” Morant was never afraid of shot-blockers as he routinely challenged them. Morant was also a good playmaker, setting up his teammates in the flow of the offense and in transition.
Morant’s freshman year was a solid foundation for him as a player. His sophomore year is when his name started to gain traction in the college basketball world. He improved in all areas of his game and became the bonafide leader of the Racers. On the court, Morant looked like a seasoned veteran at 19 years old. He had complete control over the offense and competed hard on the defensive end. Morant averaged 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 10 assists while leading Murray State to an NCAA tournament appearance. On college basketball’s brightest star Morant shined against Marquette recording a triple-double, the ninth ever in tournament history. Morant finished his season winning multiple awards that recognized his efforts. He was named to the All-American 1st Team, OVC Player of the Year, won The Bob Cousy Award and was a finalist for the Wooden Award.
By the end of Morant’s second year, NBA mock drafts and analysts had him being selected in the top five alongside freshmen sensations Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. There were even debates about whether he should go in the top three and if he was the best player overall. All the speculation would have definite answers at draft night. Having the choice of the second pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Ja Morant to be their new face of the franchise. Morant went from an unknown high school senior to the second pick in the NBA draft. His story seemed to be something that Hollywood writers would pitch to filmmakers; the underdog rising above everyone else and fulfilling his dream of playing in the NBA. But Ja Morant’s story doesn’t end there. It only just started.
Morant’s rookie year was a spectacular one. He averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists on 47% from the field. Every week there seemed to be another Ja Morant highlight where he would dish a nifty pass to a teammate for an assist or an amazing finish in traffic. In one instance, an almost posterizing dunk over Kevin Love circulated on the internet for moments on end. There were questions surrounding Morant’s ability to finish at the NBA level due to his wiry frame. Some believed that the game would be too physical for Morant and bigger players would block his shot. Of course, they were wrong. Morant takes advantage of his quick first step to get defenders on his hip on drives to the cup. If a bigger defender presents a problem in front of Morant he uses his signature floater to get a bucket. From the beginning of the season, Morant proved that not only could he score in the paint, but do so effectively. Morant shot 51% on two-point field goals and 55% true shooting, an above-average rate for NBA players. After a great first year, Morant received the Rookie of the Year Award, putting the league on notice for this up-and-coming Grizzly.
In Morant’s second year in the NBA, he continued to make improvements in his game and make top highlight lists throughout the year. Like he did in college during his sophomore season, Morant took full control over the Memphis Grizzlies. Other young players on the roster, and even veterans, saw Morant as the #1 player. He was able to keep Memphis in playoff contention late in the year. During the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Grizzlies knocked off the San Antonio Spurs en route to face the fierce Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed. In the biggest match of his NBA career, Ja Morant battled against two-time MVP Steph Curry in a win-or-go-home game. Most thought that the Grizzlies’ season would come to an end that night. Hardly anyone gave Morant and the young Grizzlies a chance. Being counted out was nothing new to Morant. He was overlooked in high school, questions remained about his play in college, and heading into the NBA. Morant was used to it at this point. Just like he did then, Morant proved everyone wrong. Ja Morant scored 35 points, made clutch baskets, and looked like the best player on the court on the way to a Grizzlies victory.
Memphis would go on to play against the number one seeded Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. Morant played well in his postseason debut, scoring 26 points on 11/21 shooting in a Memphis win. The Jazz ultimately came back and won the series in five games, but it wasn’t a cakewalk by any means. Morant averaged 30.2 points and 8.2 assists in the series and made big-time plays as he did against the Warriors. Any doubts about Ja Morant as a player were silenced.
NBA players entering their third year are expected to “make the leap”, a drastic progression in their game to be considered a first-time All-Star or at the very least a high-quality starter. Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George all made the leap in their third year, cementing themselves as perineal All-Stars. Ja Morant thus far has followed in their footsteps. In his third season, Ja Morant is averaging 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. He’s made visible improvements to his jump shot and has increased his three-point percentage from 30% the previous season to 35%. His career year coincides with the success of the Grizzlies this season. He has led Memphis to the third seed in both the west and in overall standings. Morant’s success has caught the eye of every NBA fan and praise from coaches. Lakers assistant, David Fizdale, says, “The guy is a superstar. I don’t see anybody that’s had a real true answer for the guy. What he’s done against some of the best teams in the league, the best defensive coaches, the best defensive minds, has been really impressive.” Future Hall of Fame coach, Gregg Popovich says, “He…has a little mid-range game with the floater, he’s starting to shoot the three-ball well, his speed is uncommon and when you put all those things together and add unselfishness and competitiveness to that, you’ve got a hell of a player on your hands.”
Memphis has found their star player. In three years they have gone from a lottery team to a Western Conference contender with Morant at the helm. His improvement along with the Grizzlies’ success has made him an All-Star and propelled him into the MVP conversation. Ja Morant hasn’t just become one of the best guards in the league, he’s developed into one of its best players at 22 years old.
The future is bright for Memphis.
