The clutch moments of an NBA basketball game separate the stars from the others, and Ja Morant is ahead of the pack with regard to having the clutch gene. In just five games this season, he has already had clutch performances in two of the Grizzlies' three wins, including his eighth go-ahead basket in the final 10 seconds of a game against the Phoenix Suns the other night.
The Grizzlies face the Los Angeles Lakers on Halloween night, who just won a game on a buzzer-beater themselves, with Austin Reaves being the clutch player in that one. Ironically, both of the game winners from Morant and Reaves happened on the same night, and within minutes of each other. While Reaves himself is 7-9 in his career on game-tying or game-winning shots, Morant's stat can only be rivaled by one other player in the league.
Only Jayson Tatum has more game winners than Morant
Since Ja Morant entered the NBA in 2019, only Jayson Tatum has more game-winning shots. However, the efficiency in those moments is what gives Morant the edge when it comes to who is more clutch. Morant has shot 50% on his eight go-ahead game winners to Tatum's 27% on his nine game winners.
These stats are based on game winners scored in the last 10 seconds of a game, but game winners can occur outside of that. Just earlier this year, in January, Ja Morant scored a game-winning shot on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves with 18.6 seconds remaining. Also, in the Grizzlies' season-opening victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, Morant scored eight of the Grizzlies' final 13 points to break a 115 tie to a 128-122 victory.
The Phoenix Suns were the latest victim in his "call 12" moments, as he connected on a floater with 7.3 seconds remaining to ensure the Grizzlies had a winning record after five games played. Ja Morant is ensuring he rises back up the ranks of the NBA superstar totem pole, and his clutch gene proves why he never truly fell from those ranks to begin with.