Ja Morant epitome of what a leader should be for Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant, 22, is the clear leader and face of the franchise for the Memphis Grizzlies. He is by far the most talented player on the roster and has one of the brightest futures in the NBA. However, it takes much more than just talent to be a true leader and a player that the locker room respects.
Recently, Morant has proven once again why his teammates are willing to go to war for him, have his back no matter the occasion, and hold him in such high regard as a leader. Not only was Morant at the team’s three games at the Salt Lake City Summer League, he also jetted over to Las Vegas to see the team’s first two contests in that Summer League, too. Morant not only showed up to the game to support his younger teammates but also took the time to pull some of them aside and coach them up from the sidelines.
It is not necessarily out of the ordinary for star players to show up to the Summer League and watch their soon-to-be teammates play, however, it takes things to a whole different level when someone of Morant’s caliber actually takes the time to give these players pointers that could potentially change their careers. Along with this, a good chunk of the Grizzlies’ Summer League roster likely will not be with the team by the time the season starts.
Taking the time to sit down with players that may not even share the court with him for a second speaks volumes about the character and dedication to the game that Morant possesses. Pairing this with his on-the-court leadership as well during games, it becomes very easy to see why the Memphis Grizzlies had the successful season that they did last year and seemed so united as a team.
With Memphis keeping almost the entire core of the team together from last year, they are primed for another deep playoff run. While they may be another year or two away from an NBA title, they are widely considered to be contenders this season. If one or two players are able to make a big jump over the offseason, there is no question that they could be taking the championship trophy back to Memphis when things are all said and done in the 2022-2023 NBA season.
Already in his short career, Morant has established himself as the clear on and off-the-court leader of the Memphis Grizzlies and he has done an incredible job filling that role so far.
Going the extra mile for his team like this has even had its effects on the court. The Grizzlies play some of the best team basketball in the entire league. A big contributor to this is the fact that they are a very tight-knit group that has full trust in one another to get the job done. Factors like this can decide a playoff series and with Morant at the helm, it will be difficult to find another organization in the league that plays better as a team than the Grizzlies.