Ja Morant, the star player of the Memphis Grizzlies, quickly established himself as a dominant force after being drafted as the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. The 25-year-old had an impressive debut season, winning the Rookie of the Year award. His standout performance came in the 2021-22 season when he averaged 28.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning his first All-Star appearance.
However, during a team practice in the 2023-24 season, Ja Morant, who was recently praised by Ziaire Williams, suffered a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. He only played nine games last season. Despite this setback, a former NBA champion believes that Morant will need to prove himself in the upcoming NBA season, which will start soon. During a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, the host Richard Jefferson shared why the Memphis Grizzlies’ superstar has to prove himself next season.
“I’m gonna say Ja Morant. This was a team that was trending upward. They were the OKC Thunder two seasons ago. Obviously, there have been injuries and there have been a lot of things that have gone on within the organization.” Jefferson said.
Jefferson believes in the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant because they are trending upward season by season. He also mentioned that Morant has to prove himself despite having had injuries and other incidents in previous seasons.
Jefferson Reminds Not to Overlook Ja Morant’s True Potential
Ja Morant’s decline began in March 2023 after he was seen with a gun in his Instagram Live session at a Colorado nightclub, leading to an eight-game suspension. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end of the issue as the Memphis Grizzlies superstar appeared with a gun in another Instagram Live session two months after the first incident, resulting in a 25-game suspension.
During the discussion with Tim Legler, Chiney Ogwumike, and Malika Andrews, Jefferson praised the Grizzlies’ roster and advised them not to forget the true potential of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. The former NBA player believes that the Grizzlies have an amazing roster, but they just need to be healthier for the next season.
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“But don’t forget who Ja Morant is, don’t forget about [Desmond] Bane, don’t forget about Jaren Jackson Jr., former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, former DPOY. This is a loaded roster that just needed to get healthy and make sure that their internal group was focused, pushing in the right direction.” Jefferson added.
According to StatMuse, Ja Morant averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in nine games during the 2023-24 season. The upcoming season will start shortly, and it will be fascinating to witness the Memphis Grizzlies superstar’s comeback after the injury.
