Ja Morant

Ja Morant is the most exhilarating and most exasperating young player in the NBA, and those two qualities are so thoroughly intertwined that discussing one without the other is intellectually dishonest. Born on August 10, 1999, in Dalzell, South Carolina, and selected second overall in 2019, Morant possesses an athletic gift so rare that it makes the impossible look routine — his dunks violate the laws of physics, his finishes at the rim defy the presence of seven-foot defenders, and his competitive fury burns with an intensity that sometimes incinerates his own career trajectory.

In 2024-25, Morant returned to form after the suspensions and injuries that nearly derailed a career of extraordinary promise, averaging 23.2 points per game across 50 games as the Grizzlies posted a strong 48-34 record. When Morant plays, Memphis transforms from a good team into a great one. His ability to finish through contact at the rim, his passing vision in transition, and his absolute fearlessness in attacking bigger players make him one of the most dynamic point guards in basketball. The availability issue — injuries and self-inflicted absences alike — remains the only thing preventing him from being in the top-10 conversation.

For Australian fans, Morant’s acrobatic brilliance generates the kind of highlights that ESPN was built to replay, and his partnership with Australian Jock Landale on the Grizzlies gives the franchise a direct connection to Australian basketball. Memphis under Morant is appointment viewing — chaotic, thrilling, and never boring.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Ja Morant plays guard for the Memphis Grizzlies and is the most thrilling and most frustrating player in the NBA — sometimes in the same game. The electric point guard averaged 23.2 points per game in 2024-25, returning to form after setbacks that were partly injury and partly self-inflicted. His explosive athleticism and fearless rim attacks produce highlights that defy description, and his partnership with Australian Jock Landale gives Aussie fans a direct connection to one of basketball’s most entertaining teams. The talent has never been in question. Everything else has.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com