Brandon Clarke rising fast past his peers on NBA Rookie Ladder
1. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
18.6 PPG, 3.2 REB, 6.4 AST
Even though Ja Morant will spend plenty more time sidelined due to back spasms, he still deserves the top spot on the ladder for good reason.
What else is there to say about him at this point? He’s been arguably the most competitive player in his class and has held his own against higher caliber opponents on a nightly basis.
The point guard position is the most loaded league wide it’s ever been, so seeing Morant blend in so smoothly and even best some of the top floor generals in the league on some occasions speaks to how special he’s been to start the year.
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No raw numbers will do his game justice. The way he moves with the ball and navigates traffic operating at different speeds while remaining calm and collected making plays for others is advanced for any lead guard. Last year Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came in and flashed his ability to change speeds and keep defenses guessing to his benefit.
Morant has that same approach to the game, except he’s slippery in traffic and explodes past defenders when he needs to. SGA doesn’t have that same burst quality in his bag, but Morant uses it to his advantage when he needs to in the halfcourt.
A lot of media members and fans have raved about his overall scoring efficiency given he’s always been known more as a pass-first point guard. But he hasn’t strayed away from who he is by any means, the Memphis Grizzlies have just needed him to be more of a well-rounded offensive threat to succeed given lack of shot-creating personnel.
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With opportunity comes success for anyone as talented as Morant. Barring the appearance of Zion Williamson any time this season, Morant has Rookie of the Year pretty much locked up unless these back spasms keep him from spending real time on the court.