Is Ja Morant The most exciting player in the NBA?
Since entering the NBA, Ja Morant has become one of the most exciting players to watch night in and night out. From 2009-15, Derrick Rose was the most exhilarating player to watch, having fans glued to their televisions.
Has Morant become this generation’s Derrick Rose?
Few players in recent memory have left such a legacy in a brief time, like Derrick Rose. The youngest MVP ever was special. Rose could do it all; if fans even blinked, they might have missed something magical. Only a few players have shown any potential to what Derrick Rose once was before the injury he sustained in 2012, tearing his ACL in the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Elite athleticism at the point guard position can be rare. Rose’s athleticism was extraordinary, but one player resembles the same style of play and leadership as rose, and Ja Morant looks to be that player.
Ja Morant was not the high school recruit that Derrick Rose was; however, his play is reminiscent of Rose. Murray State struck gold when they took the chance and offered Morant a chance to play for them, and they never looked back. The 0-star recruit accepted the offer and led Murray State to the NCAA March Madness Tournament, where he blossomed and made a name for himself.
The biggest star entering the NBA in 2019 was Zion Williamson from Duke, but right after him, Morant was the guy. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Morant second overall, and from that day forward, the Grizzlies became a serious threat to monitor in the NBA.
Morant earned himself the Rookie of the Year in 2020, and it’s clear that the next superstar has arrived. Derrick Rose was the most popular player in the NBA during his run while he was healthy, earning the MVP trophy at only 22 years of age, making him the youngest player to have ever won it, and he still is to this day.
Some may say that Morant gets enough love, but because he plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, a small market team, Morant may not get enough. What Morant does on the court is unmatched. No one can keep up with his speed, let alone protect the basket from his undeniable ability to get to the net.
Ja Morant is “blockbuster” to watch, and no other player in the NBA provides such entertainment and awe-inspiring athleticism on the floor. Luka Doncic is incredible but lacks athleticism. The same goes for Steph Curry. While Russell Westbrook is exceptionally athletic, he is aging and does not provide the entertainment that Morant does.
As long as Ja Morant is healthy and able to perform at the elite level he’s achieved, his entertainment factor will be the cream of the crop. He is this generation’s, Derrick Rose. It is only a matter of time before the Grizzlies’ fanbase increases with the team’s continued success.