Ja and Zion: Palmetto state rookies light up the NBA
photo courtesy of pixabay.com
Trey Stewart, Sports Editor
Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant is far from a physically imposing force. Listed at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing a mere 174 pounds, he’s the textbook definition of undersized.
But what Morant may lack in size, he makes up for in hard work and talent. Place a lot of emphasis on the latter.
Morant has been a consistent highlight-maker throughout the NBA this year, with video after video surfacing online of insane slam dunks, mesmerizing crossovers, and ankle-breaking dribbles.
He’s developed many fans during his brief time in the league so far, with one of those being his predecessor at point guard in Memphis, Mike Conley.
“I just told him, ‘I love your game. Just keep working. You’re a special player; you’re gonna be here a long time,’” Conley said while speaking to the media after the his Utah Jazz faced Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the season .
“He’s making plays in traffic and doing the right things in big moments. That’s special from a 20-year-old that’s played only 10 games.”
Morant earned Conley’s respect, but beyond that, he’s earned the respect of the league very quickly into his rookie season.
Back in November, Morant took the floor in Charlotte to face off against the Hornets in what was for him, a homecoming game of sorts. Dozens of Morant’s friends and family members packed the Spectrum Center seats to see Morant – who was born in the small town of Dalzell, South Carolina – take the floor.
And with his father sitting courtside for the game, Morant did not disappoint.
Leading all Grizzlies in both points (23) and assists (11), he caught eyes from all across the Association with his layup over three Hornets players with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to give the Grizzlies a 119-117 victory.
A little over halfway into the season, Morant is the clear favorite among his class to take home Rookie of the Year honors, averaging just over 17 points and seven assists per game.
However, Morant has one figurative (and literal) giant still remaining in his path to the Rookie of the Year award. That would be New Orleans Pelicans rookie power forward, Zion Williamson.
Williamson was the one player selected before Morant in last year’s draft, and sat out half of the season due to a lingering injury. But he’s back now, and is making incredible noise already.
Williamson outplayed Morant in their only meeting so far this season, putting up 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 139-111 Pelicans victory over Memphis. But is it too little, too late for Zion?
Perhaps it is.
But no matter which one of the two takes home the coveted Rookie of the Year award this season, the Palmetto State will certainly be proud.
With Morant hailing from Dalzell, South Carolina and Williamson attending high school at Spartanburg Day in Spartanburg, South Carolina, it has been a beautiful showcase for the state of South Carolina to make their basketball presence known.
“I think it’s really amazing,” says Dawson Martin, junior at NGU. “Seeing these guys represent our state on a stage like that is just incredible. People don’t normally think of South Carolina as a huge basketball state, but because of these guys, maybe that will change.”
Throughout the remainder of this season, it will be interesting to see what direction the race for Rookie of the Year heads in. But no matter what, count on the fact that those watching Morant and Williamson from back home will be proud of what they’ve accomplished on the court, and proud of what they’ve done for basketball in the Palmetto State.
