Memphis Grizzlies: 5 bold predictions for the second-half of the season

No 2. Ja Morant is named a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Morant is more than half-way home in earning his first trip to an NBA All-Star Game. He trails only Stephen Curry for most votes received by a guard in the Western Conference.

The NBA uses a weighted system to determine the starters in the game. The fan vote, which wraps up Jan. 22, accounts for 50% of the total vote for the ASG. The players get to vote for their peers and that accounts for 25% of the vote. Credentialed media members get to vote and that accounts for 25% of the vote as well. Head coaches vote for the bench players.

Morant has earned the respect of his peers and the media, so it’s easy to see a path for the third-year player to become a starter in Cleveland for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

No 3. Desmond Bane enters and wins the NBA All-Star 3-Point Contest

The sharp-shooting wing for the Memphis Grizzlies should absolutely get an invite to All-Star Weekend to compete in the annual three point contest.

The second-year player out of TCU has made the sixth-most three pointers of anyone in the NBA so far this season. He’s netted 131 made threes on just 312 attempts— the fewest attempts of anyone in the top five. He has the best 3PT% of anyone in the league who has attempted 261 threes or more this season.

He’s already been on record stating he’d love to compete in the contest. Let’s make it happen.