Grizzlies: Watch Ja Morant hit his head on the backboard on this block

It’s no secret that the Memphis Grizzlies have one of the most athletic players in the league in Ja Morant. The third-year point guard is the next generation’s version of Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose.

Still, it’s easy to forget just how athletic he is.

Through preseason basketball, we saw a few highly athletic plays, including an explosive dunk in the first game of preseason play. That said, Morant may have just had the most athletic play of his career in the Grizzlies’ season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant just blocked a ball that was near the top of the backboard

On the last play of the half, Lauri Markkanen had a free lane to the basket. With only smaller defenders around in Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson, and Ja Morant, it was virtually a free bucket for the former Chicago Bull.

Ja Morant had other ideas. Watch for yourself.

The Grizzly point guard rose up, blocked a shot, and hit his head on the backboard in the same play. He jumped high enough that his hand cleared the shooter’s square in the middle of the backboard — something that almost never happens.

Heck, when it does happen, it’s usually a tall, athletic player like LeBron James or Blake Griffin.

Morant didn’t just have the one highlight play, either. He’s been balling out all night long, with 20 points at halftime. It looks like he’s trying to repeat his opening night 44-point performance from the Grizzlies’ opener a season ago.

Morant also has three assists and two blocks, one of which may be an early candidate for play of the year in the NBA.

As a team, the Grizzlies have 73 points, which ties the fifth-highest halftime scoring total in franchise history, according to Grizzlies PR. Hopefully, they can finish this one out with a strong second-half performance.