Ja Morant was not the No. 1 pick in his 2019 draft class. Still, he worked diligently to prove everybody wrong and win the Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.8 points in the 2019-20 season. Moreover, he worked extremely hard to make the Memphis Grizzlies one of the most dominant teams in the Western Conference, leading them to the second-best regular-season record for two years in a row.
However, after being sidelined for nearly the entire 2023-24 season, it did not take fans long enough to overlook the 6'2" point guard's accomplishments and deem other players the next 'big thing.'
This oversight and negligence have irked the two-time All-Star to the extent that he is vying for a 'revenge tour' in the upcoming 2024-25 season, as per Shams Charania , who recently emphasized what should be expected from Morant in the forthcoming months.
Charania on Morant
The Grizzlies stud made a significant leap in the 2020-21 season, increasing his scoring average from 19.1 points to 27.4 points per game. Not only did he rightfully win the Most Improved Player of the Year honor, but he even got his first All-NBA nod. He followed that with another dominant season, logging 26.2 points per game while leading the Grizzlies to a 51-31 record.
However, after his off-court issues became widely publicized, the South Carolina native received a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season. During this period, players like Shai Gilegous Alexander and Anthony Edwards were widely acknowledged as the next big stars and overshadowed Morant's previous accomplishments.
This oversight has irritated Ja the most, as per Charania. During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, the NBA analyst revealed how Morant has prioritized his goals for the 2024-25 campaign.
"I think what we're going to expect from Ja Morant is a revenge type of season, like, people have kinda been forgetting about him. I spoke to his agent Mike Miller, he said, 'How soon they forget?' Ja Morant was arguably the face of the NBA at one point. Kevin Durant and other players came out and said, 'This is the future star,'" Charania said. "I think he's really going into this year, really believing, 'it's my time. I'm gonna take back what's mine.' That's the focus that Ja Morant has."
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Ja wouldn't tolerate disrespect
In the nine games Murray State product played last season before suffering a labrum tear, he averaged 25.1 points per game. The Grizzlies' lack of consistency hurt him and the team, and the absence led to a noticeable decline in the respect his name once commanded across the league.
This was recently highlighted when Morant discovered via social media that the GM survey listed him as a breakout candidate, prompting him to tweet, 'Respectfully… why am I on here?'
Unlike other teams in their conference, the Grizzlies never surrounded Morant with superstars. The primary reason they attained success was that the 25-year-old was their undisputed No. 1 player, establishing a clear hierarchy in the team.
However, given the NBA's ever-changing landscape, Ja has realized, in one way or another, that he needs to do more to earn back his rightful place as the league's next superstar.
For this, he must lead Memphis to a deep run in the playoffs. With the addition of a capable big man in Zach Edey, the team has all the necessary assets to get back into contention. However, it will be interesting to see if Morant will be more inclined to etch personal glory or help elevate his team to be among the best.
Related: "When Ja steps foot on the floor, he gives life to every other player on his team" - Kendrick Perkins talks about Ja Morant's impact on the Grizzlies
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