4 goals for Ja Morant to enter the MVP conversation next season

Goal #2: Become a three-level scorer for the Memphis Grizzlies

Last season, Morant averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. These are already MVP-caliber numbers, but upping his scoring average couldn’t hurt. For example, Joel Embiid, who finished second in MVP voting last season, averaged 30 points.

While Morant could certainly aim to hit the 30-point mark, he does not necessarily have to because, unlike Embiid, he is expected to facilitate a lot too, and he does not have to carry the scoring responsibilities all by himself.

Morant would be more effective with an impressive, consistent average of between 27 and 29 points, combined with the occasional explosive 50-point game, such as his 52-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs last season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQjEBmdgVQ

Even though the average throughout the season is more important, it would certainly solidify Morant’s MVP case if he could replicate that kind of explosive, dominant scoring every once in a while. Given that he was able to score 47 points in a playoff game, that shouldn’t be too difficult.

As he has already proven, Ja Morant is an expert at driving to the basket with his exceptional speed and athleticism and at scoring in the paint. This is where he takes most of his shots, which makes sense because he is pretty much unstoppable there, but to enter the MVP conversation, he might have to become a better three-level scorer.

Morant’s 3-point shot isn’t as good as his moves to the basket but he hit a solid 34.4 percent of his threes. This means that to become a three-level scorer, he will have to improve his jumper and midrange shot and also take more midrange attempts to show the rest of the league that he is a threat from anywhere on the court.

If Morant manages to do this quickly and effectively, he will be a truly unstoppable scorer and unquestionably an MVP candidate.