In Memphis, the future is now.
Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies’ electric second-year point guard, has dazzled fans with his superb playmaking, delicate floaters, and furious, seemingly earth-shattering dunks thus far in the playoffs.
Ja Morant first career playoffs:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 3, 2021
30.2 PPG
8.2 APG
48.7 FG%
That’s the highest ever PPG by a Grizzly in a single playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ctVPOOPO3Q
Morant impressed in the play-in tournament, leading the Grizzlies to wins against the Spurs and the Warriors. However, in the Grizzlies’ first-round series against the top-seeded Jazz, Morant took his game to a whole new level.
Despite the Grizzlies losing in five games, Ja Morant averaged a staggering 30.2 points (on 48.7 percent shooting) and 8.2 assists per game—the 30.2 points being the highest ever averaged by a Memphis player since the franchise was created.
In total, Morant scored 151 points and accounted for 51 assists— the first player in NBA history to accumulate 150+ points and 40+ assists throughout their first five playoff appearances, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Even though the Grizzlies weren’t able to overcome the combination of Donovan Mitchell’s explosive offense and Rudy Gobert’s stifling defense, Morant remained confident after the deciding Game 5 loss and noted that the Grizzlies are far from finished.
Per Grizzlies broadcast host KJ Wright, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins noted that after the game, Morant’s first words to the team in the locker room were that of unity and conviction.
“We will be back,” he said.
