The Memphis Grizzlies may not be thought of as a title contender. In fact, a lot of NBA fans don’t even think that they’ll be capable of making the NBA Playoffs, via the play-in or otherwise. That said, Grizzlies fans will beg to differ.
While this Memphis team may be unable to win on a consistent basis, they’ve proven to be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the league. It helps to have a polarizing figure in the basketball world in Grayson Allen but extends to the rest of the team.
Desmond Bane has brought elite 3-point shooting to the squad, while Jonas Valanciunas is an animal in the paint. Even from the bench, Brandon Clarke has been a surge of energy with floaters and alley-oop finishes, while De’Anthony Melton has stepped up as a strong all-around player.
When Jaren Jackson Jr. is around, he brings a special type of athleticism to the floor, with unmatched length, quickness, and ball skills.
But none of these guys are the player that fans will tune in for.
Memphis Grizzlies G Ja Morant draws a wide fan base for each game
The player that brings fans to their television to watch the Memphis Grizzlies is Ja Morant. For the foreseeable future, that won’t change.
In fact, Ja Morant isn’t just the most entertaining player on the Grizzlies — he’s arguably the most entertaining player in the league. While he has a similar, but toned-down playstyle compared to Russell Westbrook, he does it with less size.
That’s what makes Morant so exciting to watch. He’s 6’3″, a number that doesn’t seem quite right when he drives to the lane and rises up for an explosive dunk. That said, he can play big and play small. While he reminds fans of Westbrook at times, he can look like Allen Iverson on the court.
His ability to improvise and finish creatively at the bucket hasn’t been seen at this level in decades. The last player who has had the natural talent that Morant does was likely Iverson when he played with the 76ers.
That said, Morant may be a better passer than Iverson ever was, carving up defenses every single night. And that is exactly the beauty of watching 12 out on the court.
He has such a wide range of capabilities out on the court. As his career progresses, this will only continue to grow and barring any sort of disaster, he could become the best point guard in the league.