Morant often picks up the tab at team dinners and
hosts BBQs at the home he shares with his parents and
sister. Family is everything to Ja. So is loyalty. When
Draper was furloughed at the start of the pandemic,
Morant called to offer a full-time position as his skills
trainer. As a rookie, he welcomed Niele Ivey before any
other player when she became the first female coach in
Grizzlies history.
In his role as Memphis’s vocal leader, Morant’s intel-
lect doesn’t hurt. “His ability to read the game is sec-
ond to none,” says Jenkins, recounting a breakfast the
two shared before a game against the Mavericks in
which Morant suggested a defensive strategy he saw
the Warriors deploy with success against Luka Donˇci ́c
earlier this season. “He’s a savant.
“I don’t even know where he’s going when he cuts
sometimes. But he has done a great job when it comes
to him saying, ‘Hey, wait for this, I’m gonna cut here,
I’m gonna space here or I’m gonna set my screener up.
The dialogue has gone to a whole other level with our
team, and a lot of that is him.”When imbued by a superstar, selfless qualities can
foster the sort of chemistry that’s critical for any team that
believes it’s at the dawn of a potential dynasty. Morant’s
talent makes him an MVP candidate, but his principles
have turned him into a quintessential franchise pillar.
It’s the type of impact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by one
of the greatest point guards ever.
“When you got that ability that he has,” Suns guard
Chris Paul says, “when you can hoop and play and still
feel like you’re in the backyard but you in the NBA? The
sky’s always the limit.”
His dad envisions multiple championships, MVP tro-
phies and Olympic gold medals. Jackson thinks Morant
will eventually average a triple double. Morant’s agent,
Jim Tanner, believes he can be the face of the league. In
the meantime no draw in basketball is more compelling.
During the first quarter of a game in Philadelphia,
Morant launched his body from the dotted line and col-
lided with 6' 10", 279-pound Andre Drummond in front
of the rim, drawing a foul, a solid outcome.
But on the next play Morant jogged past his dad’s seat
only to hear criticism. I would’ve dunked that! Te e b a rk e d.
Morant stared back at him: I ain’t even out the bed yet.
In the third quarter, after Morant reeled off a string
of showy baskets, he ran by the same spot. This time,
it was his turn to howl so everyone nearby could hear.
I’m up now! I’m up now!
36 It could be a while before he comes back down.
GR
EG(^) NE
LS
ON
LIVING IN THE PAINT
Morant may be 6' 3 ", but he’s more productive in
the paint than anyone in the league. “I don’t fear
nobody, dawg,” he says.