1. Ja Morant
Rookie point guard Ja Morant is the new face of the Memphis Grizzlies franchise.
One year ago, Morant was a hidden gem on the college basketball scene going into his sophomore year at Murray State, known only to the sport’s hardcore fans as he shined at a mid-major school.
He proceeded to put himself on the national map throughout the season — averaging 24.5 points, 10.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game — then really blew up in the NCAA Tournament.
If it wasn’t already clear that the Grizzlies viewed Morant as the focal point of their rebuilding effort when they drafted him with No. 2 overall pick, all doubt was erased a few weeks later when Memphis traded starting point guard Mike Conley Jr. — who they’d just signed to a massive contract in 2016 — to the Utah Jazz to clear the way for Morant on the depth chart.
It’s typically tough for a rookie point guard to adjust to the NBA and make an immediate impact, but it’ll be an especially tall task for the 6’3″ Morant with the league currently in a golden era at the position.
In just one road trip through California, Morant could face the likes of Stephen Curry, De’Aaron Fox, Patrick Beverley and maybe even LeBron James. In the Southwest Division, he’ll regularly see Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holiday and Dejounte Murray, among others.
The pressure Morant faces right now isn’t about leading the Grizzlies to a lot of victories, but more about proving that the franchise’s investment in him was justified.
Expectations for Morant in 2019-20 are to keep hope alive among Memphis fans and keep them believing that he was the right choice to build around.