Memphis Grizzlies: How Ja Morant can force into the 2021-22 MVP race

Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant has room to grow, physically

When Ja Morant drives to the paint, it looks like nobody can stop him. He finds a way of getting to the bucket with power that is rarely matched at the point guard position. That said, he has room to grow physically.

NBA height-weight stats should be taken with a grain of salt, but Morant currently has a tiny frame compared to other players with a similar playstyle in the NBA. It’s not a huge deal, but if he can bulk up, he could be a problem for opposing teams on the defensive end.

Here’s a comparison between Morant and Russell Westbrook, a player who Morant models his game off of, physically.

• Ja Morant: 6-3, 174 lbs
• Russell Westbrook: 6-3, 200 lbs

NBA-listed stats should be taken with a grain of salt, but that’s a pretty jarring difference between these two players. Morant likely won’t go out of his way to bulk up, but as he gets older, he’ll begin to fill out.

That said, year three should see Morant become faster, better, and stronger. He can only improve physically, so from that perspective, opposing NBA teams should be on the lookout. He’s still quite a few years from his physical prime, but at the age of 21, he’ll be growing rapidly.

But this is only the first reason why he can make a run at the MVP award next season.