5 increasingly bold NBA predictions for the highly anticipated 2024–25 season

4) Ja Morant makes All-NBA, Grizzlies finish with a top 3 seed in the West

For the last two years, Ja Morant has made more headlines for his off-court antics than his highlights on the court, so much so that people seem to have forgotten how elite of a talent Morant is. He is one of the best-slashing playmakers we have seen in the NBA, and his athleticism knows no limits.

In the last full season he played, Morant averaged 26 PPG, six rebounds, and eight assists and the Grizzlies finished as the second seed in the West. Even last season in the nine games he played before tearing his labrum, he averaged 25/6/8 and Memphis went 6-3 in those games. 

Last year, the Grizzlies had the most injury riddled season in NBA history last year, as they lost over 592 combined games to injury, used 33 different players, and 51 different starting lineups. Now with Morant coming back healthy along with Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the addition of Zach Edey, they will be back near the top of the West this season.

Morant is going to have a huge chip on his shoulder this season and with all the talk about the great young talent in the NBA in Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and others, he will be flying under the radar this season. He even talked about that during media day. I expect him to play at an elite, All-NBA level this season and lead Memphis back to where they belong in the West.