No, it did not count in the box score. But what this dunk on Victor Wembanyama did do was serve as a reminder to the rest of the NBA what Ja Morant is capable of.
He can be the face of the NBA. He can be a force of audacious nature.
Ja Morant can lead these Memphis Grizzlies out of the Western Conference and in to the NBA Finals. Something the franchise has never done.
Much must happen for Memphis to get to that uncharted territory, of course. A trade - another wing, a rim protecting big, a backup point guard - may still be in the cards for the Grizzlies. And while it may not be as big as some would suggest, such a transaction could both condense the roster and upgrade it ahead of the natural rotation shortening of the postseason.
But any idea that it needs to be Jimmy Butler-esque can be retired for good (if it hasn’t already been). Because the Ja Morant we saw against the Spurs can be “the man”.
It’s not just the highlight-level plays. Those are fun, and reflections of Ja’s ability to go viral and be the talk of the league. But it’s the 12 assists to only two turnovers that he posted against San Antonio that showcase his elite-level passing while protecting valuable offensive possessions for the Grizzlies. It’s the defensive acumen that has developed nicely this season, including a career-high steals percentage.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is clearly the best two-way player on the Memphis roster, and if only one Grizzly makes the All-Star team it should be Jaren. But if not for his availability issues, it’d be Ja joining Jackson Jr. again for the annual showcase of the league.
And it still may be.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the clear class of the Western Conference and perhaps the entire league. Then there’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, who despite getting worked over by OKC recently are still thriving in the Eastern Conference. Boston and Dallas loom large as the most recent Finals representatives for their respective conferences. The Rockets may have the Grizzlies number, and the Knicks perhaps boast the best starting five in the league.
There is competition aplenty as the important Martin Luther King Jr. holiday approaches. And yet, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Memphis should be just as much of a threat as any team not named the Thunder or Cavaliers.
It’s the Grizzlies who have three rotation-level players on the shelf, waiting to return within the next week to three weeks or so. It is Memphis who has the ascending Jackson Jr., the returning steady productive hand of Desmond Bane.
And it’s the Grizzlies who have Ja Morant - an unapologetic-ally authentic wizard with the basketball in his hands. Whose magic is on display not just on dunks, but passes, and fall away jumpers, and floaters, and how his team believes in him.
That belief, and Morant’s ability to reward that belief on any given night, can carry these Grizzlies where they’ve never been before.
