Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant may very well win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award and will have a chance to lead his team to the postseason soon. But for now, he'll have to settle for hyperbolic compliments from Kendrick Perkins.
The former NBA veteran and current ESPN analyst showered the talented young guard with high praise on First Take Friday.
“To me he's a combination of Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, with dimes like Rajon Rondo. And we've never seen a guy like this.”
On Saturday, Perkins doubled-down on his plaudits:
“Ja Morant is athletic like Russ, with handles like Kyrie and he drop dimes like Rondo…2020 Rookie Of The Year Hands Down!!!!”
In his rookie season, the electric 6'3″ guard out of Murray State is averaging 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game on nearly 50% shooting. Somewhat surprisingly, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft has led the young Grizzlies to a 32-33 record, good for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference at the time the regular season was halted.
Perkins recognized Zion Williamson's body of work and referred to him as a “beast” and “generational talent,” but insisted that Ja Morant still has the upper hand, adding that the Grizzlies guard's ability to quickly rejuvenate a franchise and lead them into the playoff picture is what should earn him Rookie of the Year.
Williamson is putting up massive numbers in his first season—23.6 points per game on 58.9% shooting—but has only appeared in 19 games so far. Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans (28-36) will have a chance to catch Morant's Grizzlies in Orlando later this month.
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