Man this kid really looks like the Rookie of the Year. He's having a better rookie year than Doncic/Trae last year. I thought he was gonna be much more raw than he actually is. He's very skilled finishing at the rim and is doing a lot of unorthodox stuff. 17.6 PPG (47% FG, 41% 3PT, 79% FT) 6.5 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG He's a big reason why Memphis is often competitive this season (they've beaten Brooklyn, San Antonio, Utah, Miami, OKC, lost very close games against Houston, Lakers, Clippers, Denver). That and also having a pretty good shooting team around him. Their entire front-court is shooting 40%+ from three (JJJ 40%, Valanciunas 46%, Clarke 46%). And Brandon Clarke might actually be Morant's biggest rival for the ROY. The Grizzlies have nailed this draft. P.S. This is not a @what thread, so the hype might actually be real.
To me he’s clearly rookie of the year and will be a top 2 or 3 player if he stays healthy and hungry.
They've got a great core to build around already between Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr and Brandon Clarke. If they manage to pick up someone decent in the 2020 Draft they might become the OKC 2.0
Yeah, he is the real deal. He also has the passion and drive to get ROY and set bigger goals next year and beyond.
Agreed, it's kinda crazy to think both him and Clarke so far look even better than Jaren, that's actually scary.
Just one website's opinion, but Morant and Clarke rule the rookie class. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba...uo-owns-award-race/1dg4em6z5sixu1dq2t1lpuzt0g Seems like Morant has the flashier numbers, but Clarke has been more consistent / been better, analytically? You guys are right; the Griz have the makings of a really good young core. The rebuild might not take long.
Clarke is an absolute steal, dude is pretty much a complete two way player, can literally do everything, create, score, shoot, pass, rebound, block shots, guard multiple positions...to think that we could've get him with Butler this summer in the trade with Boston...life sucks.
Definitey, Fox is good and i think he'll still get better, but Morant looks like a star in the making.
Memphis also 1-5 in games he's missed. fwiw, so far, he doesn't make enough 3s to qualify for the leaderboard, at 39% atm ... so double teams/traps don't have to attack him above the arc yet ... ICE drops are still a way to defend him.
I hate this video already because instead of giving props to the rookie so many people are making it a joke about Harden's defense. Like man, people can't chill with their hate on him. His step back will be deadly not because of any lack of defense but because his drive by ability is just as deadly...same reason that Harden's step back ability is deadly. When Harden does this to Kawhi no one says "HA! Just how Kawhi plays defense!"