Memphis Grizzlies: What has to happen for Ja Morant to win MVP in 2022-23?
By Reed Chapman
What will it take for Ja Morant to become the MVP of the league next season?
Ja Morant’s third-year leap into true superstardom was undeniably special.
He led the Memphis Grizzlies to the second-best record in the NBA, got named an all-star starter in his first ever appearance, and even took home the 2021-22 Most Improved Player award.
Ja Morant is this season's Most Improved Player.
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) April 25, 2022
2020-21 --> 2021-2022
19.1 PPG --> 27.4 PPG
4.0 RPG --> 5.7 RPG
.449 FG% --> .493 FG%
.303 3P% --> .344 3P%
16.7 PER --> 24.4 PER
.537 TS% --> .575 TS%#Grizzlies | @memgrizz | @JaMorant pic.twitter.com/6PxSThaSbg
These eye-popping stats, as well as still averaging 6.7 assists a night, made him the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 25/5/5 before turning 23 years old. Who are the other five you might ask? Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic— historic company.
The remarkable season from 22 year-old Morant was good enough for him to finish seventh in MVP voting last year.
The question is: What has to happen for Ja Morant to crack the top three and ultimately win MVP in 2022-23?