Memphis Grizzlies: Grading Ja Morant’s 2020-21 season thus far

Ja Morant has had a better offensive season that stats would lead you to believe

A big knock on Ja Morant’s offensive game this year has been his inability to shoot the 3-pointer. Not unlike other athletic players, his 3-point shot has regressed pretty severely in his second season in the league.

I’m here to tell you that this is not something to be worried about. Actually, this is a net positive if you look at it from the right angle.

Ja Morant is playing a half minute longer per game than he was last season. He has improved his scoring, however, by a point and a half. And he’s doing this while he’s shooting significantly worse from the 3-point line. 10% lower to be specific.

He’s taking more shots without sacrificing any efficiency outside of his long-range attempts. If he can get it together from downtown, he’ll be a lock for an All-Star appearance in 2021-22.

So while the 3-point shooting struggles are definitely noteworthy, he has improved his game and stepped up as a scorer so far this year. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned his drastic improvements as a passer thus far.