Ja Morant is one of the most explosive players in the entire NBA. His elite athleticism, ballhandling, and playmaking make him one of the league’s best guards despite being only 24 years old. As a result, the Memphis Grizzlies point guard comes in at No. 2 in the top 25 players under 25 entering the 2023-24 season.
Top 25 NBA Players Under 25: No. 2 – Ja Morant
Background
Morant attended a relatively small school in college, Murray State. Despite not being a top-tier basketball college, Morant’s talent received plenty of national attention. In his sophomore season at Murray State, Murray made First-Team All-American. Any concerns about Morant playing at a small school and being unable to transition smoothly to the NBA were minor, as teams were enthralled by his skill set and potential in the league. As a result, Murray was the No. 2 overall pick in 2019 by the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s a pick that completely revitalized the Grizzlies franchise as they finally got their cornerstone piece to build around.
Style of Play
Morant is only 6-foot-2 and 174 pounds. However, he plays much bigger than his size with a relentless, downhill attacking style. His game is reminiscent of other guards with elite athleticism in their prime, including Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. Morant’s 6-foot-7 wingspan, elite vertical, quick first step, and agility are a rare combination in the NBA. He’s challenging to guard both in transition and half-court sets.
In half-court, Morant gets by his defender consistently, often forcing a help defender to collapse as he attacks the paint. Morant is great at playing aggressively but not recklessly. He is an elite finisher around the rim and can also read the defense and make the right play to find the open man when the defense collapses; this is evident by Morant’s stats last season. The Grizzlies guard averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals on 47/31/75 shooting splits. His rebounds and assists were career highs, showcasing his well-rounded game and ability to contribute in multiple facets outside his elite scoring ability.
In transition, Morant is at his best. He’s athletic, crafty, and tough to stop when he gains momentum towards the hoop. It’s a perfect strength that complements the Grizzlies’ team build well. Memphis is atop the league in defense. They now have two former Defensive Players of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart, following their offseason trade for Smart. It’s a team that gets stops on defense and has the defense turn into offense. Morant is as good as it gets in transition and can capitalize off the opposing team’s missed shots.
Accolades
Despite being 24, Morant has a solid resume of accolades in the NBA. He has made back-to-back All-Star appearances. In 2022, Morant was also named to the All-NBA Second Team. He was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2022, where his numbers jumped from 19.1 points to 27.4 points per game. Even Morant’s efficiency improved from 44.9 percent to 49.3 percent from the field. In 2020, Morant was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
Last Word on Ja Morant
It will be more difficult for Morant to add impressive accolades to his resume. He’s suspended for 25 games heading into the 2023-24 NBA season for “conduct detrimental to the league.” Morant’s suspension is following his eight-game suspension in a similar incident, both involved posing with handguns on live streams. Morant can travel and practice with Memphis while he serves his suspension. It’s a distraction and a concern for the Grizzlies’ organization.
However, when Morant is on the court, he’s an elite point guard capable of winning at the highest level as the team’s focal point. He just needs to stay available.
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