Coming back from an injury, Ja Morant dropped 22 points to go along with 11 assists while leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a win against the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum. Two of those 22 points were the highlight of the night, as Morant rose for a thunderous dunk. It was a dunk attempt that sidelined Morant the last time, but he didn’t hesitate to jump even higher and land a massive one-handed slam. But will we see more Ja Morant dunks this season?
Ja Morant Says No More Dunking
The fans and the commentators went crazy when Morant rose for that vicious dunk, but they might have to wait a while for him to land a similar punch.
Known as one of the most vicious and aggressive dunkers, Ja said that might be the last dunk of the season after the game. Speaking after the game, when the reporter asked what was going through his mind during the dunk, the Grizzlies star point guard said,
“I really wanted to lay that up, but that’s my one dunk for the year. So, you all be enjoying that.”
Previously in the interview, Ja talked about how he felt coming back from an injury, saying,
“I felt pretty good and made sure I was ready to come out and play my normal minutes. Felt pretty good shooting the ball and everything.”
Is Ja Among the Best Dunkers?
Fans remember Ja Morant as one of the best in-game dunkers. They have been begging for him to participate in the dunk contest, but so far, he has not responded to that. He is probably one of the best dunking small men.
Ja has powerful and vicious slams when he is getting maximum elevation and then cocking it back and trying to dunk on someone. But he lacks the creativity some of the more popular dunkers had.
We have to remember players like Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Blake Griffin, Jason Richardson, and others. Of course, Morant’s dunks compilation looks impressive.
Ja Turning a New Page
Last year, Ja missed the first 25 games due to suspension, and then injuries plagued him and the entire Memphis Grizzlies team. This year, it seems like Morant is turning a page and displaying good behavior.
He is not as cocky and trash-talking as in previous years. You can notice in his interviews, as well as his behavior on and off the court. Yes, he has moments like the one with LeBron in the first Lakers game, but that is pretty much it.
Last year, the staff had to go the extra mile to accommodate him and his entourage. Ja went from being a nice guy to every time you look up, he is with somebody.
The Grizzlies definitely need that good guy Ja back with them. When they had their core of Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. healthy two years ago, they were the No.2 seed in the crowded Western Conference. They want to get back there, and Ja is the one that can lead the way.
