Let's set the scene: The Memphis Grizzlies were leading the San Antonio Spurs 122-111 with 2:12 remaining in the 4th quarter and Ja Morant hahad the basketball near halfcourt with Stephon Castle guarding him.
Spurs superstar center and Defensive Player of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama was hanging around near the paint area, ready to protect the rim as he had for a good portion of the night as he had eight blocks. However, Grizzlies' rookie center Zach Edey was able to get a dunk on him earlier in the game as the only other player that is taller than him in the NBA.
ZACH EDEY DUNKS ON WEMBY 🤯😤 pic.twitter.com/B8dAKs2FIX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 16, 2025
Also, the Grizzlies (2nd in Points in Paint per game) dominated the Spurs with 62 points in the paint as they erased an 11-point halftime deficit to lead and eventually win by double-digits. But back to Ja Morant and the moment he shook the NBA world again.
The Grizzlies point guard faked like he was going to his right before cutting past Stephon Castle on the left sideline, leading to a foul call as he drove past him. Due to the foul call just as he passed Castle, the continuation of what might still be considered the dunk of the Year, even without it counting, was negated.
The whistle for the foul call on Castle was blown late as Morant had already created separation from him which led to him and Wembanyama meeting at the rim. The final result?
This Ja dunk on Wemby still count… don’t nobody care bout that whistle pic.twitter.com/knSxNGI1dB
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) January 16, 2025
Ja Morant has been notorious for dunk attempts that were wild but missed early in his career. However, this time it was a foul call that negated his best dunk of the season.
Just a month ago, Ja Morant made the statement that he would dunk less to protect his body, and he has attempted less for much of this season. However, the opportunity to dunk on the Spurs' big man was too enticing to pass on.
In his short stint last season, Morant had a dunk on Victor Wembanyama that he downplayed due to the simplicity of the attempt, which he called a "hard layup." The dunk he had on Wembanyama last night was real and his reaction afterwards said it all.
As big of a moment as that was, the most important thing was the Grizzlies completed their second-half comeback to defeat the Spurs 129-115. The teams are set for round two in a back-to-back set in San Antonio on January 17th.