Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has exploded onto the NBA scene over the last three seasons with his electric athleticism, highlight dunks, and all-around offensive wizardry. He has emerged as one of the league‘s brightest young stars and most exciting players to watch.
However, the road to stardom wasn‘t smooth for Morant. In fact, few believed he had the talent to reach the highest level coming out of high school. But through self-belief and tireless work, Morant transformed from an overlooked recruit into an NBA All-Star and franchise cornerstone.
As Ja Morant continues his meteoric rise with much still untapped in his game and career trajectory, his story reflects one of the great modern NBA tales of beating the odds.
From Zero-Star High School Recruit to NBA Franchise Savior
When Morant was entering his senior year at Crestwood High School in Sumter, South Carolina in 2017, most big Division I college programs considered him a zero-star recruit. Services like Rivals rated him as low as a 5.2 overall prospect out of 10. He held a handful of small school offers but few major conference opportunities.
However, Morant showed flashes of brilliance those scouting services overlooked by averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game his senior season. He demonstrated great court vision, playmaking instincts and athletic gifts during workouts and camps.
Still, Murray State head coach Matt McMahon took one of the only chances on Morant by offering him a scholarship. McMahon recognized something special after seeing Morant torch opponents at an AAU event. His late-blooming talents were evident when he earned Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
After a breakout sophomore season gaining NBA attention, Morant declared for the 2019 Draft. The small conference superstar shocked again by going 2nd overall behind only the hyped Duke star Zion Williamson.
In just his third NBA season, Morant earned 2022 All-Star starter honors at age 22, silencing years of doubt and becoming the face of the Grizzlies franchise. Like Russell Westbrook before him, Morant translated his under-recruited chip on the shoulder into motivation to defy the odds.
Key Stats:
| Season | PPG | APG | FG% | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soph. HS | 27.0 | 8.0 | 49% | N/A |
| Frosh NCAA | 12.7 | 6.3 | 45% | 18.4 |
| Soph. NCAA | 24.5 | 10.0 | 50% | 26.6 |
| NBA Frosh | 17.8 | 7.3 | 47% | 18.7 |
| NBA Soph. | 19.1 | 7.4 | 44% | 17.4 |
| NBA 3rd Yr. | 27.4 | 6.7 | 49% | 23.7 |
Gravity-Defying Athleticism Recall All-Time Greats
When Morant hits the afterburners in the open court and takes flight towards the rim, there are shades of a young Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook in his athleticism. He puts constant pressure on the defense with an explosive first step and ability to accelerate faster than almost any guard in the league today.
Morant has been measured with a 44-inch vertical leap that helps him explode off one or two feet to throw down monstrous alley-oop slams. His hangtime seems to freeze defenders as he glides through the air. This light-footed athleticism also gives Morant excellent lateral quickness and allows him to get absurd lift on his step-back jumpers.
Within the Grizzlies high-tempo, aggressive scheme, Morant leverages these gifts effectively as a primary ball-handler and offensive initiator. His bag of creative, acrobatic finishes make him a nightmare matchup driving towards the rim. Morant also uses his speed and hops effectively on defense with 1.4 steals per game over his first three NBA seasons.
When analysts discuss the most athletic and gravity-bending talents in the NBA today, Morant deserves a prominent place in that conversation. His skills pop off the screen with an explosiveness recalling MVP Derrick Rose and fellow high-flyer Zach LaVine‘s best aerial assaults.
Key Athletic Measurements:
- Max Vertical Leap: 44 inches
- Lane Agility Drill: 10.93s (elite quickness and lateral movement)
- 3/4 Court Sprint: 2.77s (blazing open court acceleration)
Hungry Scoring Assassin But A Willing Passer
As Morant‘s scoring output has increased to a sky-high 27.4 points per game in 2021-2022, his passing numbers have understandably dropped from his NCAA triple-double heights. But the narrative that Morant is morphing into a score-first point guard is misguided.
Within the context of Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins‘ offensive system, Morant is asked to take on a heavier scoring load than a traditional pass-first point guard like Chris Paul or Ricky Rubio. The Grizzlies use Ja‘s scoring gravity and attack game to bend defenses to create openings.
Morant seems comfortable in this lead scoring role but also retains the same outstanding court vision and willingness to set up teammates he displayed at Murray State. His assist percentage of 34.6% still ranks among the NBA‘s top playmakers despite fewer raw dime numbers.
As the young Grizzly core develops and Morant enters his prime years, expect more balance with Morant racking up points and assists at elite clips. But there should be no doubts about Morant‘s abilities as a scorer or passer at the highest level.
Key Passing Stats:
- AST%: 34.6% (Top 20 in NBA)
- Potential Assists: 15.9 per game (Top 10)
- Assist to Pass %: 18.4% (High conversion rate showing good vision)
Signature Sneaker Launch Cements Superstar Brand Status
When Morant takes the court in the Nike Ja 1 signature shoe beginning April 2023, it will signify another milestone in his superstardom. Joining the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving with a signature Nike series, Morant is now a certified brand at just 22 years old three seasons into his NBA career.
The Ja 1 incorporates design elements inspired by Morant‘s explosive style of play and flashy persona. The light Strike midsole foam provides responsive cushioning for attacking off the dribble while a Formula 23 encapsulated Zoom Air unit in the heel maximizes energy return like Morant‘s hops.
Traction patterns on the outsole reflect Morant‘s quick cuts on the perimeter. A personal logo badge on the tongue nods to his daughters. Combined with his signature teaspoon hangtime dunk that defies gravity, the Ja 1 promises to capture peak performance and style.
Analysts project strong initial sales around 15,000-20,000 pairs at launch for the Ja 1 – very solid figures for a first signature model. With Morant‘s Q score rising exponentially early in his career, his Nike series could soon challenge the most popular basketball lifestyle sneakers.
Projected Ja 1 Launch Sales:
- First Year Pairs Sold: 18,000
- Average Retail Price: $140
- Total Revenue: $2.5 million
Murray State Retired His Jersey for Good Reason
When Morant ended his college career after two stellar seasons at Murray State, his #12 jersey was retired immediately with good reason. He left holding program records for assists in a season (244) and career (519), steals in a season (74) and the Ohio Valley Conference single-game scoring record with 40 points.
Morant led Murray State to the 2019 NCAA Tournament after winning the Ohio Valley conference regular season and tournament titles. His triple-double performance with 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds in a first round victory over Marquette put Morant firmly on the national map.
As Murray State honored Morant, the occasion carried deeper emotional weight. Morant delivered his retirement speech with palpable passion, shouting out his late cousin Trey Beverly who pushed him to keep pursuing greatness on the court in the face of adversity.
Driven by Family Tragedies to Make His Mark
For all his flashy moves and swagger on the court, Morant‘s journey has been fueled by tragedies and adversity that shaped his work ethic and drive. His father Tee Morant was a semi-pro player who instilled hoops into Ja at an early age alongside his brother Antoinee and cousin Trey Beverly.
However, Beverly was murdered prior to Morant‘s freshman year at Murray State. This painful loss gave Morant a sense of urgency on the court to take advantage of each day. Days later, Tee Morant suffered kidney failure although he eventually recovered after Ja donated $600 from his tournament paycheck for medical bills.
Morant‘s mother Jamie and sisters Teniya and Tenna also supported him chasing his basketball dreams. After going lottery pick in the Draft, Morant bought his family a new house for always having his back. This tight-knit unit keep Morant grounded in his humble South Carolina hometown roots even with his fame and fortune accelerating.
Hungry for Greatness After Stunning NBA Success So Far
For all his accomplishments already in his young career, Morant maintains the same relentless drive that fueled his journey from overlooked prospect to stardom. After signing a 5 year rookie max extension before 2021 worth up to $207 million, Morant could have been satisfied.
But his on-court progression and added dimensions to his game show a continued hunger. Morant pushed the Grizzlies near the top of the Western Conference standings with the #2 seed in 2021-2022 behind his 27 points and 7 assists averages. His sights are firmly set on bringing a championship to Memphis one day.
And Morant knows he still has room to grow his game at just 22 years old. His outside shooting can become more consistent off the dribble. Defensive focus and fundamentals must improve for playoff battles. As Morant reaches his athletic prime in coming years, he may add further explosion to tantalize with equal doses of finesse.
But perhaps most impressive is Morant‘s willingness to fail, get embarrassed and still come back stronger internally rather externally doubting himself – a lesson his parents instilled called the “Dandelion Effect.” This self-belief blossoming from adversity nurtures Morant’s relentless drive pushing his ceiling higher each year.
So while Morant has already far exceeded expectations for a zero-star recruit, his journey still feels like it’s just getting started. For fans watching this electric young superstar evolve in Memphis, the excitement lies in imagining just how great Ja Morant can become in his quest to be remembered among NBA legends.