Giannotto: Where is Morant ready to lead the Grizzlies now?
There’s a new mural of Ja Morant by Memphis artist Jamond Bullock on the side of the Slim and Husky’s pizza building, right there on Union Ave. to greet everyone driving downtown.
There’s a new billboard of Morant, and just Morant, mounted above the Fedexforum plaza facing Beale Street, flexing to greet everyone once fans are allowed back inside the arena again.
There is an underwear brand and sports drink that he endorses now, and a documentary series about him on the way.
There’s even a new baby giraffe named in Morant’s honor – Ja Raffe – at the Memphis Zoo.
Even during a pandemic, the reminders are popping up everywhere around town that the Grizzlies’ future is now hitched to Morant’s future. That the next phase of his ascension might already be here. The phase in which he assumes the throne as the city’s first bonafide NBA superstar.
So just where is Morant ready to take this franchise right now?
It will be the defining theme as the Grizzlies kick off their 20th and most unconventional season in Memphis on Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs. And it’s a theme that will hover over every Morant season to come.
If Morant continues to progress, it’s hard to think of a disappointing outcome
to this season. Either the Grizzlies overachieve again, perhaps even sneak into the playoffs this time instead of just the play-in. Or they fall short and wind up in the NBA Draft lottery, with the chance to find another player to put with Morant.
This abbreviated preseason – when Morant flexed, swaggered, Gritty’d and generally did whatever he wanted on the floor in four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks – reinforced just how much control he has over the Grizzlies’ performance moving forward.
His assists were up and turnovers were down. His 3-point shot looked better, and the coaching staff still thought he could have shot it more. He couldn’t be kept out of the lane and he kept finishing at the rim. He applied himself more on defense. He seemed capable of turning the Grizzlies into one of the NBA’S best surprises all over again.
“I feel like the game is slowing down. I’m way more comfortable,” Morant proclaimed.
It’s scary to consider that last year, when he was named rookie of the year, was way less comfortable.
None of this is meant to diminish the young supporting cast that’s surrounding Morant. The Grizzlies front office has deemed this group “special.” They were content to make minimal changes this offseason.
Nor should it diminish from the impact of not having Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow to start this season.
It’s to spotlight how much Morant’s development will dictate the team’s development, today and for years to come.
Morant’s teammates shot 42.5 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers via
Morant kickout passes last season, according to the statistical analysis website, Fivethirtyeight. It was the ninthhighest rate among the 68 passers who created at least 100 such 3-point attempts, an indication that Morant, as a rookie, was creating more open shots for his teammates than most point guards in the league.
Morant’s rookie year subsequently coincided with the best statistical seasons for Jackson, Dillon Brooks, Jonas Valanciunas, Deanthony Melton, Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen. Kyle Anderson, meanwhile, is in the midst of the best 3point shooting stretch of his career playing in the starting lineup with Morant.
“I feel I can score zero points and still affect the game because I’m so unselfish,” Morant said. “I put a lot of pressure on the defense when I’m being aggressive and it gives us good looks.”
“He’s a guy that doesn’t even have to see you to find you,” Allen said. “He’ll pass it to you just knowing you’re at that spot and deliver it right on the money. It’s really nice to play with a point guard like that.”
“He’s got the great ability with his sixth sense to kind of read situations,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins added, “sometimes before they even have happen.”
It’s what he did last year, jump-starting this Grizzlies rebuild and transforming the trajectory of the franchise before anyone else thought it would happen.
So to start this season, he’s on a billboard and a mural and a national advertising campaign.
What comes next?
It might be the most exciting question this city has had to answer since the NBA came to Memphis 20 years ago.
You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto