Ja Morant may not get as much attention as Zion or Luka, his name belongs right there with them as one of the best young players in the NBA.
Leading the Grizzlies to a playoff berth while averaging 17.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 49.1% shooting have him squarely in the top spot to win Rookie of the Year this season and his game is being lauded by many around the community.
In a chat about Morant on First Take, ESPN NBA analyst (and former league big man) Kendrick Perkins compared him to a mix of Kyrie, Westbrook, and Rajon Rondo.
“He got the Memphis Grizzlies in the eighth spot. Forget catching the eighth spot, they’re in the eighth spot. That speaks volumes to me,” Perkins said.
“When you look at Ja Morant, this kid is a generational talent,” he continued. “He’s a combination of Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook with dimes like Rajon Rondo and we’ve never seen a guy like this – not a guy at this age to take over a franchise with the leadership that he’s doing.”
Ja Morant is athletic like Russ, with handles like Kyrie and he drop dimes like Rondo…2020 Rookie Of The Year Hands Down!!!! https://t.co/FRxe6NV3rp
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) July 3, 2020
Morant seemingly has it all. He can score inside and out, he can handle the ball with ease, and he’s very athletic, able to use his speed, vertical, and strength to best his opponents near the rim.
While it remains to be seen just how high this kid’s ceiling is, the Grizzlies are optimistic that he can live up to become their next franchise superstar. It will be interesting to witness how he responds to the pressure.
