After the 2017 playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies have been a lottery-bound team. However, since the arrival of Ja Morant, the entertaining guard has managed to transform the Tennessee-based franchise into a powerhouse.
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After making it to the 2022 conference semifinals, their best postseason performance since 2015, Taylor Jenkins’ boys are having a pretty incredible season. Currently tied with the Denver Nuggets as the #1 team in the Western Conference, Morant and co. have a solid 19-11 record.
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With the team playing some sensational basketball, Ja is pretty confident with Memphis’ chance of winning the Western Conference.
“The Grizzlies do a lot of talking for a team that doesn’t win anything”: Shannon Sharpe
Recently, the reigning Most Improved Player sat down in an interview with Malika Andrews. Talking with the ESPN reporter, the 2020 ROY implied that he didn’t believe any team in the West would be an obstacle for them.
Malika Andrews: “Who do you look at around the league as you’re studying and say, ‘We’re gonna have to run through them?'”
Ja Morant: “Celtics”
MA: “No one in the West.”
Ja: “Nah. I’m fine in the West.” #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/dh4e5lF1AE
— ’ (@_Talkin_NBA) December 21, 2022
Shannon Sharpe was one of many who didn’t appreciate Ja’s overconfidence. On a recent episode of “UNDISPUTED“, Sharpe said:
“The Grizzlies does a lot of talking for a team that doesn’t win anything. The last time the Grizz made a Western Conference Finals, Ja Morant was 13. And he’s talking like they go to the Western Conference and go to the NBA Finals every year. What you mean you good?
Bruh, y’all not good.
Y’all not like that. Y’all ain’t got Shaq, don’t got Kobe, you don’t got a Tim Duncan. Y’all got a nice little team, I will concede that. You got a nice deep team. But bro, if you think it’s a far gone conclusion that y’all gonna run through the West, that ain’t happening.”
Ja Morant says he’s “fine in the West” when asked which teams concern him:
“Grizzlies do a lot of talking for a team that hasn’t won anything. The last time the Grizz made a Western Conference Finals, Ja Morant was 13. Did I miss something?” — @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/g3AiWbZ5r6
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) December 22, 2022
Ja Morant having a historic season
However cocky we call the Grizzlies, we have to give them credit while they are the best in the West. And the leader of this pack of talented youngsters, Morant, is having one of the best seasons of his young career.
In the 25 games he’s played so far, the 6-foot-3 highflyer has been averaging 27 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists. Further, the All-Star has had quite a phenomenal season, in terms of Grizzlies franchise history.
Ja Morant among all Grizzlies Players in Franchise History
— 1st in 50-Point Games
— 1st in 40-Point Games
— 1st in 30-Point Games
— 1st in Triple Doubles
— 1st in 25/5/5 Games
— 1st in 40-Point Playoff Games
— 1st in 30-Point Playoff Games@JaMorant is only 23 Years old. pic.twitter.com/mDLDzv1f4L— NBA Muse (@NBAMuse24) December 16, 2022
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