Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant is making an early case for Rookie of the Year

Memphis Grizzlies Ja Morant is making a strong start to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2019-20

Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. The first and second overall picks in this past summer’s draft, all the talk was which player would be more impressive in their freshman year at the NBA level. With Zion still out with a nagging knee injury and yet to make his regular-season debut, Morant has stolen the spotlight undoubtedly in the 2019-20 campaign so far, emerging as an early favorite for Rookie of the Year.

At just 19 years old, Morant is solidifying himself as one of the most important players for Taylor Jenkins every time he steps on the hardwood. The former Murray State standout leads the Grizzlies with 18.3 points per game and has also handed out a team-best 5.8 assists per night, a skillset that has proven to be one of his best along with his ability to score from all over the floor.

He’s started all 10 games this season, averaging 27.5 minutes per contest. That’s second-most on the Grizz behind veteran Jae Crowder, who’s played 30.3 per game. Morant also leads all NBA rookies in points per night and assists so far this season.

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Morant is shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range. He’s only attempting 1.8 3’s per game as he tends to like driving to the hoop and use his quickness and athleticism to finish above defenders. But when he’s attempting shots from downtown, Morant is converting at an impressive rate. In comparison, the Grizzlies point guard is taking 12.9 2-pointers per contest. With the handles and pure agility he has, especially on the fast-break, it’s been hard for anyone to stop Morant when he gets in first gear.

Showing maturity

Although the Grizzlies are just 4-7 this year so far, Morant has been a huge part of the games they have managed to win. On October 27th, he went toe to toe with Kyrie Irving in an OT thriller where Memphis beat Brooklyn 134-133. As we all know, Irving is one of the best players in the game today.

Morant showed out against him, dropping 30 points in just 32 minutes while dishing out nine dimes. He crossed over Irving several times, the king of handles himself. Morant’s speed seemed to overmatch Irving at times as well. The fact that he played this well against one of the NBA’s elite just shows how special Morant is and how bright of a future he’s going to have.

On Wednesday in a 119-17 win over the Hornets, Morant added an impressive feat to his rapidly growing NBA resume. Aside from dropping 23 buckets and facilitating 11 assists, Ja showed ice in his veins, hitting his first career buzzer-beater to secure the victory for Memphis.

With just six seconds left in the fourth quarter, Taylor Jenkins put the ball in Morant’s hands. As he saw the clock wind down, Ja beat his defender on the perimeter, drove to the hoop, switched hands mid-air, and finished with a tough layup among three Hornets defenders.

The poise and maturity that Morant is showing this early in his career should be very exciting for the NBA and Memphis Grizzlies fans. He hasn’t been scared of the big moment once yet, no matter who his opponent is. To step into the franchise player role and fill the shoes of a player like Mike Conley who was arguably the best to ever put on a Grizzlies uniform is no easy task.

But Morant has done it with professionalism, skill, and pure confidence. To have such big expectations weighing on your shoulders at just 19 years old is tough in itself, but Morant is embracing every single moment.

This is just the start for Ja Morant, but if it’s any indication for the future, he’s going to have a very decorated NBA career.