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On the court, Ja Morant sizzles as one of the most electrifying ball handlers in recent basketball history, a man who doesn’t know what the word tentative means. With year one in the books, he’s a Rookie of the Year finalist who’s heavily favored to win the award.
Things are going well off the court too: Days after he scored a career-high 35 points in the NBA’s first ever play-in game, Morant was named an equity partner and ambassador for the sports drink BodyArmor. The 21-year-old is pleased: “Athletes are paying attention to what we put in our bodies and BodyArmor is the right drink for a lot of people," he says. “It keeps me hydrated. It tastes good. So I’m excited to help BodyArmor reach their highest potential.”
Beyond that, Morant’s future is as bright as any player in the entire NBA. Yesterday, he caught up with GQ to chat about his fractured thumb, being compared to Allen Iverson and Russell Westbrook, and why he won’t rule out re-creating the Dunk of Death.
GQ: You played the last few games of the season with a fractured thumb. Did you ever consider sitting out or missing some time?
Ja Morant: No. I mean, at that point I wanted to win. I’ve been through a lot. I grew up playing on concrete. Unless I can’t do something at all, I’m gonna be out there on the floor. But it’s all good. It’s healing now. But playing out there, just putting my body on the line for my teammates, is what I was doing.
What were you thinking when you first heard about the play-in format, knowing that you were the 8 seed before the season was suspended, and in the driver’s seat to make the playoffs?
It was something I couldn’t do nothing about, so I just had to go out there and play. I feel like the league tried to do the best thing they could, but as for me and my team, we were just focused on growing, getting better out there, trying to get wins and make the playoffs.
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Defenses this year—and particularly in the bubble—often ducked under screens in the pick and roll, hoping you’d shoot. Heading into the offseason, are you focused on adding a jump shot to your game that opposing teams have to respect?
I mean, I was playing with a fractured thumb on my shooting hand. So if I knew that too, I would expect it and do the same thing if I was playing another player. I’m not worried about a jump shot at all. Obviously, if they’re going under screens, it’s hard to keep me in front. I’m fine with that.
It’s similar to Allen Iverson or Russell Westbrook.
I definitely appreciate all the love and high praise. Russ and AI are two special, very talented, gifted guys. But I’m Ja. That’s the only player I try to be.
You’re already one of the more imaginative players in basketball. That came out last week when you intentionally lobbed a ball off the glass to Brandon Clarke. You tweeted about how they credited you with a missed shot. Was that really on purpose?
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The play you’re talking about, for me it’s an unselfish play. All I’m trying to do is make sure Brandon’s man comes to contest my shot, and then I just throw the ball high on the glass to where it’ll drop right in front of the rim for him to catch and dunk it. I feel like it sounds easy, but we had to practice it a little bit.
Are you hoping to get credit for the assist next time?
Yeah, I doubt they’ll give it to me, though. [laughs] I’ll probably have to find somebody. Me and Brandon know and trust it, and I’ll take the missed shot, as long as we get the bucket.
Do you look at the young core in Memphis as the best in the NBA? You, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke. What goals are you setting for next season, individually and as a group?
I feel like we have a great, strong, young core. The sky's the limit for us, as long as we stay locked in and continue to work. This offseason, some of us are dealing with injuries, but as soon as we all can get back together and put in work, we’ll definitely be a tough team. [Brandon and Jaren] make my job easier. I feel like I can just throw the ball anywhere around the rim for both those guys, and they can go and finish. They both can shoot the three. They both have a good feel for the game.
Before the season came back, I made a bunch of bubble predictions, and one of them was that you’d re-create Vince Carter’s Dunk of Death. Are we ever going to see it?
I feel like that’ll be on a defender if they just stand there and jump, but anytime I’m attacking the rack I’m looking to finish the play, regardless of who’s down there. So I can say it’s probably possible, but we’ll see.
You just lost to the Blazers and Dame was on a hot streak. Can Portland beat the Lakers?
Both are great teams. I honestly feel like it’ll be a very exciting series. Personally, I just hope it goes to 7. I don’t care who wins it, I just want to watch a lot of basketball.