Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant put on a show on Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets.
Not only did Morant lead the Grizzlies over the Rockets, but he had his finest game of the season. Morant scored 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting while adding eight assists and five rebounds. The rookie sensation set multiple NBA records and registered his highest game score of the season, according to Basketball Reference.
Morant made a statement to former NBA MVP James Harden and the rest of the league, and even basketball legends like Tracy McGrady are buying into the hype.
McGrady said on ESPN's “The Jump” that he believes Morant is a future MVP and could even be the best player in the league one day.
Tracy McGrady thinks Ja Morant has the ability to be a future MVP.
Do you agree 🤔
(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/lIC05MbFwK
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) January 16, 2020
High praise? Certainly. Whether Morant can fulfill those expectations is up to him, though he is certainly exceeding expectations thus far this 2019-20 campaign.
Morant is averaging 18.0 points, 6.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds through his first 35 games, showcasing spectacular athleticism, ball-handling and advanced instincts for a rookie guard.
Despite a small sample size — just 2.3 attempts per game — Morant is also making nearly one 3-pointer per game as he looks to improve as a perimeter shooter. Indeed, Morant knocked down 3-of-4 threes against the Rockets, showing a willingness to take what the former NBA MVP gave him on the offensive side.
The former Murray State standout is also experiencing team success. The Grizzlies were still supposed to be a few years away from contention, but Morant has helped them to a 19-22 record after a 6-1 start to January. Memphis currently holds the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.
Ja Morant will almost assuredly win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, but Tracy McGrady thinks there is plenty more in his future.
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