He has enough motivation with his head coach being fired, but Ja Morant may have more fuel for the playoffs.
The fifth-year veteran and two-time NBA All-Star has the Memphis Grizzlies in the postseason picture as the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Multiple media personalities in the National Basketball Association feel like no one will challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Morant looks to shut that thought down. He and his teammate, Jaren Jackson Jr., share the team lead of averaging 22.4 points per game. Morant dishes out the most assists per game (7.4) and has nearly two steals (1.2) a game.
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He went through season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in the 2023-24 campaign; however, Morant has navigated Memphis to the playoffs in three of five years. Issues off the court have most hesitant about stepping to the talented point guard, yet it seemed Morant is cleaning up that part of his life too. According to a collaborative pieces from multiple writers at ESPN, an anonymous NBA general manager think a team ‘can’t win multiple playoff series’ with Morant as its best player.
An anonymous NBA GM doesn’t think you can win many playoff series with Ja Morant as your best player
“Does he sell tickets? Yes. Is he a top-25 player when healthy? Yes. Can he win multiple series as the best player? No. Not sure most years you can win even one. Plus he is… pic.twitter.com/A6iGepn7uM
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 1, 2025
“Does he sell tickets? Yes,” said the anonymous GM. “Is he a top-25 player when healthy? Yes. Can he win multiple series as the best player? No. Not sure most years you can win even one. Plus, he is always hurt.”
Morant has a long sheet of injuries that date back to 2019, the year he was drafted. He has endured issues with his shoulder, thigh, knee, hip, back (multiple occasions), foot, and hamstring this season. Morant can end much of the negative conversations by leading the Grizzlies on a deep playoff run. We will see if he’s able to do it as the postseason begins on April 19.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
