4. Ja Morant Is Breaking Out
Where would the Memphis Grizzlies be this season without point guard Ja Morant? The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft is having his coming-out party, putting together one of the better starts of the 2021-22 season around the league.
Morant is playing at an MVP level, averaging 28.3 points, which trails only Stephen Curry and Paul George for most points per game in the NBA. He is adding 7.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game as well.
What makes his offensive performance so impressive is how he is doing it. Morant is leading the NBA in points per game at the rim despite being a 6’3”, 174-pound point guard. Players of his stature aren’t expected to perform well at the rim, let alone excel at it.
Morant is fourth in the NBA in field goals from within 5-feet of the basket, shooting 41-of-62 so far. He is averaging 13.4 points per game off of drives and has put together the second most prolific scoring binge over a five-game period in Grizzlies history, with his 152 points the first five games of the season trailing only Marc Gasol.
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The Grizzlies are going to need Morant to continue playing at a high level, especially while Dillon Brooks remains sidelined. Morant is what makes Memphis go and if he can lead them to another playoff appearance, some individual accolades could be earned at the end of the season.
