Ja Morant has one of the most inspiring stories in the NBA. It wasn’t like he was playing basketball to eat like Kris Dunn, or trying to get away from the violence he saw every day, but he had to fight hard to be where he is right now, defying and beating the odds.
He was overlooked growing up, and even when he was getting out of high school, he didn’t have any scholarship offers on the table. Flash forward, Ja has become an NBA All-Star, a Most Improved Player candidate, and has even earned MVP buzz with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Life looks very sweet for Morant right now, but things didn’t look this promising when he was a teenager. Recently, sports columnist Mark Giannotto remembered that Ja was an unranked prospect, with zero stars five years ago. Now, he’s an All-Star starter after a terrific season with the Grizzlies.
A lot changed for Ja Morant the past 5 years. pic.twitter.com/RvAY6XN8tE
— Mark Giannotto (@mgiannotto) February 18, 2022
Morant is a very electrifying player who has become a famous name thanks to his incredible dunks, his will to become better and his humbleness.
Ja has been like that forever; always letting his game do the talk while he remains quiet, watching those who criticize him. His story could have been a lot different if it wasn’t for a coach that saw him play when he was in high school. Somebody was hungry, spent some time ordering a soda and a snack before realizing they were in front of a special talent.
He never gave up on his dream. Even though he didn’t go to the most famous program in the NCAA, Morant became a solid prospect for the NBA and the Grizzlies knew it. The New Orleans Pelicans tried to pair him with Zion Williamson in 2019, but Memphis was well aware they couldn’t let that talent go.
That decision has paid off for the team, and we can’t wait to see what Ja will bring to the league in the future.
Credit for this idea: u/shellfish87
