One of the true breakout stars of the 2021-22 NBA season has been Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. Morant made his first All-Star team and has been the driving force behind the Grizzlies turning into contenders in the Western Conference.
People have certainly taken notice of Morant and the Grizzlies and for good reason. Memphis currently has the second-best record in the NBA at 46-22, trailing only the Phoenix Suns.
There has been a lot of discussions recently about where Morant ranks among players in the NBA. He is certainly climbing those rankings with his performance this season, averaging 27.7 points, 6.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Over at ESPN, a poll was held about which young point guard was the best one in the NBA. Morant finished second on the list behind only Luka Doncic and ahead of Trae Young, LaMelo Ball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Darius Garland.
LATEST NBA NEWS: NBA MVP Race: Why Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Deserves Consideration
There are certainly some people that will put Ja Morant on their MVP ballots this year and with good reason. The Memphis Grizzlies are having an excellent season and Morant is their best player. However, how good of a situation that he is in, is something one Eastern Conference executive thinks is actually a knock against him.
“It’s weird to say this, but I don’t think [Morant] is quite as good as his public perception,” an East executive said. “If you put Shai on that Memphis team, he could potentially be doing a lot of the same things.”
That is certainly a hot take from that executive. But, what if scenarios like that are always interesting to discuss. Being on a team as good as the Grizzlies are, who have players that can compensate and overcome some of Morant’s shortcomings, certainly presents him with an advantage over other players.
LATEST NBA NEWS: NBA MVP Race: Why Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Deserves Consideration
Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly an interesting comparison to make because he is an excellent two-way player. If you inserted him into the Grizzlies’ lineup in Morant’s spot, their offense may not be as dynamic, but they would be able to overcome it because of the defensive versatility that SGA would bring to the table.
It is fair to question if Morant would have the same success that Gilgeous-Alexander is having if they changed places. The Oklahoma City Thunder does not have a system in place like the Grizzlies do, yet Gilgeous-Alexander has been able to get his name into these discussions because of the production he has provided.
LATEST NBA NEWS: NBA MVP Race: Why Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Deserves Consideration
But, you have to make the most of your current situation. Without Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies wouldn’t be where they currently are. He deserves the praise he receives as he has taken his game to another level in his third season in the NBA.
