The Memphis Grizzlies look to have a star in the making in point guard Ja Morant. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has had an explosive start to the 2021-22 season as he helps put the Grizzlies back on the map.
He has provided some incredible highlight plays already this season, creating quite a buzz on social media. But, it is not the individual things that he focuses on, as at the end of the day, winning is all that matters to him.
That is why he wasn’t pleased with his 40-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening.
Morant was excellent with 10 assists and three rebounds to go along with the monster scoring output, but it was a missed free throw at the end that would have tied the game which is bothering him.
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“I really don’t care about what I’ve done tonight in this game. I missed a free throw to tie it. It’s pretty much the only thing on my mind,” Morant said.
Morant was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game. After making the first two, he missed the third. Carmelo Anthony grabbed the rebound and iced the game with two free throws of his own after that.
While he may have come up just short this time, his teammates are confident that he will come through the next time he is needed. Desmond Bane expressed as much following the game.
“That’s our leader, that’s our guy,” Bane said of Morant. “He’s going to be an All-Star, probably All-NBA player. We’re going to war with him, and we have his back through everything. He happened to miss a free throw tonight. Next time he gets another opportunity to win a game I’m sure that he’s going to capitalize on it.”
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With how he has performed thus far during the season, Ja Morant is well on his way to receiving some accolades for his play. Coming through in those clutch situations, which his Memphis Grizzlies teammates are confident he will do, will only help his case of becoming an All-Star and All-NBA Team member.
