Three Things the Grizzlies Star Point Guard Must Do to Keep Them Relevant?

As has been the case for the Memphis Grizzlies the last several seasons, so goes Ja Morant, so goes the Grizzlies’ season. How well or how badly the Grizzlies do is determined entirely by Ja Morant’s play, or lack thereof. So, what are the three most important things Ja Morant must do to keep the Grizzlies relevant? Let’s break it down.

Lean on Your Teammates

While the former Murray State guard is one of the best clutch-time players in the league, capable of taking over a game on a whim, arguably one of his strongest attributes is his passing ability. From behind-the-back passes, across-the-court passes, and his lobs to teammates, Ja is one of the best passers in the league. While Ja consistently averages at least seven assists a game, the Grizzlies flourish when he passes more. For instance, last season, the Grizzlies were 10-3 when Morant had at least ten assists in a game, while being only 20-17 when he recorded under 10 assists. This is a stark contrast that shows that Morant getting his teammates more involved leads to greater team success. Ja can still dominate games, he can still score 30 points a night, but he may not have to, and it may be better if he doesn’t.

Avoid Off-the-Court Antics

For most players, this isn’t even a topic of concern, but for Ja, it’s become almost expected. Having missed 33 games in his career due to personal misconduct issues across multiple seasons, Ja Morant seemingly always finds himself in trouble. Whether it was his original eight-game suspension for holding a gun in a Denver nightclub, his 25-game suspension for holding a gun in his car, or perhaps even his continuing to shoot finger guns during games, Ja is an NBA troublemaker. For a player as injury-prone as him, the last thing he needs, and the Grizzlies need, is him missing even more time for off-court antics that 99% of players don’t even think about doing. Not only does it hurt Morant and his family’s image, but it also hurts the Grizzlies and all the players and coaches who work so hard to win games day in and day out. For the Grizzlies to succeed, Ja must remain glued to basketball.

Stay Healthy

Ja Morant’s health has been his biggest kryptonite, and thus the Grizzlies’, since he was drafted. While injuries are part of the game, Ja Morant has missed multiple weeks practically every year he’s played. In his five-year career, the Grizzlies’ star has missed 99 games due to injury/illness with injuries to his hip, wrist, ankle, back, thigh, and shoulder. The star has hurt virtually every part of his body. This has caused him to miss weeks at a time and numerous playoff games, costing them multiple series wins in the process. While Ja may just be a player prone to injuries, he can at least help himself stay healthy by avoiding flying through the air as much.

Being Ja, he loves jumping over people, reaching the top of the backboard, and creating highlight reels in-game for fans and the media to talk about. He lives for the lights and cameras, but this can also encourage him to take unexpected risks mid-game to reach these heights. Simply pulling back a little can keep his body rested and fresh for the long haul. He has the trainers to keep him conditioned, and he has the equipment to keep him healthy; all he needs is not to take unnecessary risks to undo all of this. As they say, the best ability is availability, and Morant hasn’t had much of that thus far in his career.