The Memphis Grizzlies are notoriously bad.
They are currently 1-4 and are far away from the grindhouse playing days of the early-to-mid-2010s.
However, Ja Morant is really, really good.
Morant is quickly becoming one of the few bright spots for the Grizzlies this season, and maybe will be for the rest of it. He is playing like an early NBA Rookie of the year candidate, averaging 18.8 points and 5.4 assists on 51.4 percent shooting overall and 50.0 percent 3-point shooting. While the Grizzlies aren't looking to be contenders right now, it's good to see they have a building block in Morant after trading away Marc Gasol and Mike Conley in 2019.
Morant's play captured the eyes of casual basketball fans during his two years at Murray State. There, he established himself as an all-around wizard with the basketball, in which his play and athleticism reminded many of Russell Westbrook. But now, Morant's play has also caught the attention of The King and his descendants.
Following the Lakers' blowout victory of Morant's Grizzlies. LeBron James gave high praise for the rookie. He also stated that his two sons, LeBron Jr. and Bryce, are huge fans of Ja Morant in his household:
Lakers’ LeBron James says Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant is popular in his household: “He seems like a really good [kid] and he seems like he loves the game. Both of my kids love him. They love his game.” pic.twitter.com/GOkiMxiSt7
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 30, 2019
Let's hope that the rebuilding Grizzlies will add support for Morant as his career progresses. There are some solid young big men in place in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke, plus a veteran in Jonas Valanciunas, but more help will be needed so there's no burnout due to wear and tear.
Players such as Morant and Zion Williamson, both from South Carolina, pounded the high school and AAU circuit throughout their amateur careers. While both are still young athletes, it's important that they watch their health first and foremost. Morant has battled through an ankle injury the past few games. Williamson is out until around December with a meniscus injury. The Grizzlies want Morant to be around for years to come, so it's essential they take care of their young stud. They also must take the time to thoroughly develop the rest of their roster so they can provide support.
While Morant is a shining star, it's not fun to watch a player of his caliber wear down over time. Russell Westbrook became a casualty of this episode, doing so much by himself that he burnt out by playoff time. When injuries took over Paul George last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder began to collapse and took part in their third consecutive first-round playoff exit.
It's great that Ja Morant is performing well for the Grizzlies, but it will all be for naught if they don't take care of the back end to support their sensational rookie.
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