If your mission was to convert a non-basketball fan into a believer and could only choose (one player – one game) for them to watch to make your pitch. Ja Morant the 22 year old second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft of the Memphis Grizzlies – is that player and his game last night against the San Antonio Spurs would be that game for them to watch. After scoring a career high 46 points on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. Morant’s encore performance yesterday upped the standard. He followed his 46 point masterpiece with a new career high 52 point game.
At only 6’3″, 174 pounds and not overly muscular. Ja is not an intimidating athletic figure. Don’t let that boyish nice guy smile fool you. He is a monster on the court. Morant has power, finesse, speed, grace, shooting and electrifying slam dunks in his arsenal. He can score anywhere on the court in so many different ways. At point guard Ja is not a one trick pony. He distributes the ball beautifully getting his teammates involved, averaging almost 7 assists per game and with his crazy vertical is pulling down 6 rebounds as well. Morant’s defense is strong too as he collects many steals and has some of the most amazing blocks, you will ever see.
Many Basketball pundits compare Ja Morant to the likes of NBA Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson and current players Russel Westbrook and Derrick Rose when he was in his prime. They are all great players and I do see elements of his game in each of them. However, Ja Morant to me is one of those generational talents and if he can stay healthy may be in consideration as one of the best of all time!
Ja Morant is by far my favourite player to watch in the NBA. If I am not tuned into my beloved Toronto Raptors.
Steph Curry and Ja Morant are two players that are a priority and most definitely on my watchlist, when their teams are playing.
They are both must see TV!
Thank god for NBA League Pass!
