Ja Morant can do things on a basketball court that few players, past or present, can even dare to attempt.
The Grizzlies guard reminded everyone of his otherworldly athleticism during his team’s preseason opener on Monday with several plays that defy the laws of physics.
By the same token, Morant’s breakneck playing style has also worked as his deterrent. The point guard has suffered multiple injuries to his lower extremities in each of his first five seasons, and even injuries to his upper body were due to his incredible leaping ability. What goes up must come crashing down.
Luckily, he avoided catastrophic injury, with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon confirming that Morant only suffered “a minor tweak” to his ankle and there’s “no significant concern” in the Grizzlies camp.
However, what if Morant suffered an injury even before the start of the 2024-25 season? Yes, injuries are a part of sports, and yes, Morant shouldn’t change what brought him to the dance. It’s his athleticism that made him a five-star recruit out of Murray State and got him paid max dollars in the NBA.
That said, the last thing we need is another Derrick Rose situation. Rose, who was just as, if not more athletic than Morant, also routinely defied logic with his jaw-dropping verticality and highlight-reel dunks. But Rose’s career was marred by a series of ankle and knee injuries he never recovered from.
Over the last few years, several ex-players have implored Morant to not rely as much on his athleticism, and instead become wiser with his movements on the court. In April 2023, Matt Barnes said, “If Ja continues to attack the basket that way his career won’t be very long. The ground is undefeated.”
Here’s hoping Morant wakes up before it’s too late. As a good passer and shooter, the 25-year-old boasts a complete skill set and can be smarter in picking and choosing his moments to bank on his athleticism.
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