Any player who even flirts with the "star" label before turning 23 is already a winner. It's hard to make an impact in the NBA, let alone a major one, without struggling through that early-career learning curve...
The NBA isn't searching for the next generation of stars. That group is already here. The Association is awash with young talent. Some of tomorrow's biggest stars are starring today...
Grizzlies' Ja Morant Jokes About Low NBA 2K21 Ratings, Says He's 'Probably a 72'
Oct 22, 2020
Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant reacts after a losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
It's a yearly tradition: NBA 2K releases its player ratings for the upcoming season, and the league's players deride their ranking, which they feel should be higher.
This year the Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young entered the fray, unhappy with his 88 overall mark, and when NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant joined the conversation, the Memphis Grizzlies star sarcastically noted he expected to be rated a 72:
Here are some of the other NBA2K notable ratings NBA 2K21 released Thursday:
LeBron James: 98 (top overall)
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 97
James Harden: 96
Kevin Durant: 95
Stephen Curry: 95
Damian Lillard: 95
Luka Doncic: 94
Jimmy Butler: 93
Kyrie Irving: 90
Jayson Tatum: 90
Klay Thompson: 89
Donovan Mitchell: 88
Devin Booker: 88
Rudy Gobert: 87
Jamal Murray: 87
Kemba Walker: 86
Jaylen Brown: 86
Zion Williamson: 86
We'll have to wait to see where Morant ends up. Surely, after his superb rookie season, he'll be a lot higher than a 72.
Heat's Tyler Herro: I'm Fueled by Remembering All 12 Players Drafted Before Me
Sep 29, 2020
Miami Heat's Tyler Herro, left, passes the ball away from Boston Celtics' Daniel Theis (27) during the second half of an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Some of the players drafted ahead of Tyler Herro (hello Zion Williamson and Ja Morant) remain wholly justifiable. That said, there are probably more teams than not that wish they would have taken Herro ahead of the guy currently on their roster.
Herro remembers every single one.
"Being drafted 13th really motivates me, but I love where I was drafted," Herro told reporters Tuesday. "I love the opportunity I was drafted to, the situation, but the 12 guys drafted ahead of me definitely are in the back of my head all the time. I know every last one that was drafted ahead of me. It definitely does fuel me."
"I know every last one that was drafted ahead of me. It definitely does fuel me."
For the record, those players are Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Jarrett Culver, Coby White, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish, Cameron Johnson and P.J. Washington.
If we were to redraft today, Herro would probably go fourth behind Williamson, Morant and Barrett. There's a fair argument to be made he could even move ahead of Barrett, though the Knicks swingman's upside probably wins out.
Herro has proven to be nothing short of a draft steal, averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists during a stellar regular season before taking his game to an even higher level in the playoffs. The former Kentucky guard is averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists during the Heat's Finals run, highlighted by a 37-point outing in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
Ja Morant Wants to Know Why Reporter Didn't Vote Him as Rookie of the Year
Sep 19, 2020
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after an assist in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
When the NBAannouncedMemphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant as the Rookie of the Year for the 2019-20 season on Sept. 3, the league noted he received 99 of 100 first-place votes.
Now it's been revealed Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was the only voter who didn't rank Morant No. 1, instead opting to place the New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson atop his ballot.
Morant took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon to seek Cowley's reasoning:
appreciate you 🤝 i’m not gonna do too much , ima let everybody else do dat . i just wanna know why lol 🤔👂🏽
Although there's no doubting Williamson's impact on the Pelicans upon his return from knee surgery in January, Morant built the more complete Rookie of the Year case while playing 43 additional games.
He was immediately thrust into a marquee role for Memphis, leading the team in both points (17.8) and assists (7.3) while also grading out as a plus-defender in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus.
It was a lot of responsibility for a first-year player, and not only did he excel, but he also did enough to help the Grizzlies earn a berth in the play-in game in the loaded Western Conference. They came up short against the more experienced Portland Trail Blazers, but it still set the stage for a bright future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eXUXgp7-wk
Williamson and Morant, the first two picks in the 2019 NBA draft, will forever be linked, and their careers are each off to promising starts.
The Grizzlies' rising star was the rightful winner of the league's top rookie honor, however, and he's clearly taking names of those who disagree.
Ja Morant Named 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year over Zion Williamson, Kendrick Nunn
Sep 3, 2020
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) waits for time to expire in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson received the other first-place vote, though Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn finished second by a comfortable margin.
Morant was the No. 2 pick last June and exceeded his lofty expectations with an average of 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game, immediately becoming the go-to option for the Grizzlies.
The 21-year-old made a significant jump in competition from the past two seasons at Murray State, but the 6'3" point guard easily transitioned to the NBA and remained efficient with a 50.9 effective field-goal percentage, including 33.5 percent from three-point range.
Though Memphis was expected to be far down the standings, the South Carolina native helped lead the squad to theWestern Conference play-in game, where it fell to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Williamson was also impressive with an average of 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but he only made 24 appearances because of a knee injury.
"I feel like I've done enough. I deserve it," he said of the award. "I feel like my play this year proved all that."
The voters seemed to agree, handing Morant the first major honor of what could be an exciting career.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, More Athletes Speak on Jacob Blake Shooting
Aug 26, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, second from left, wears a Black Lives Matter shirt and kneels with teammates during the national anthem prior to an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other current and former athletes spoke out against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday and supported the Milwaukee Bucks' decision not to play Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic in protest.
The Bucks' strike comes amid ongoing protests against systemic racism and police brutality sparked by the killing of George Floyd in May.
The police shooting of Blake has also flared ongoing protests in Kenosha, located 40 miles from Milwaukee.
Other NBA teams followed the Bucks, with the Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers games also postponed Wednesday.
I was excited to see us play - and hopefully close out our series - tonight. But I stand behind our players, today and always. After more than 400 years of cruelty, racism and injustice, we all need to work together to say enough is enough. #JusticeForJacobBlake#WeHearYou
Bucks guard George Hill says to @TheUndefeated his team is not playing against Orlando tonight in light of shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. “We’re tired of the killings and the injustice,” Hill to @TheUndefeated.
Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change
Where demands can start for systemic change: Divesting from the police and investing into our communities + non police solutions. https://t.co/9YgvAcjaHu
How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”
How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”
How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”
FED UP. Ain’t enough money in world to keep overlooking true issues that effect the mind body & soul of what we do. We cannot be happy for self when our communities are suffering & innocent folk are dying.. since George Floyd, there have been at least 20 other police shootings. https://t.co/UmzuuWP7us
NBA players, please build on this moment! Avoid being co-opted! The people have worked too hard & risked too much for corporate PR from their role models 2 set them back. We don’t want or need “ride alongs”, we need change. @NBA I hope you’ve learned from the @NFL atrocities
How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”
Josh Hader on Bucks boycott: "I think it's a tremendous stand. This is more about sports." Says can't say yes or no on #Brewers boycott. "I'm sure it's something we are going to discuss."
Out of respect for Jacob Blake & his family we’ll postpone our @projectrock@underarmour PR3 launch today. I’ll keep you posted on our relaunch date. Unbelievable we’re here again. Shot 7xs. In the back. In front of his kids. There’s no progress without humanity.
How can you hear the pain Black people are going through and dismiss it as nothing. How can you hear the pain and respond with anything other than “I stand with you.”
I do not have the words to meet the depths of my frustration & sadness. But, I do know that the senseless killings & shootings of Black Americans by the police and vigilantes has to stop. These are human rights violations. My children deserve better. We all deserve better.
As the #Saints go through practice right now, CB Janoris Jenkins shows on IG their helmet with “JACOB BLAKE” across the front. pic.twitter.com/DTypWk1Tdv
We will continue to stand for the countless victims of police brutality. Nothing can justify #JacobBlake being shot 7 times in the back. I proudly support my brothers and sisters from all sports backgrounds and the stance they are taking to fight for equality.
I can assure all of you that myself and many of my competitors are continuing to work hard with @NASCAR to continue the efforts and the fight for racial equality. Let’s stand or kneel TOGETHER and continue push for what’s right. Love. Compassion. Understanding #BW🤘🏾
According to data from Mapping Police Violence, Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people in the United States.
In addition, 28 percent of people killed by police since 2013 are Black, although they only comprise 13 percent of the population.
LeBron James Wears Kobe Bryant Jersey Ahead of Lakers vs. Blazers Game 4
Aug 24, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks down while speaking to the crowd about Kobe Bryant, prior to the team's NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
This week was always going to be a tough one for Los Angeles Lakers players and fans.
Former NBA icon and Lakers great Kobe Bryant would've turned 42 years old on Sunday. On Monday, the NBA celebrated what's become known around the basketball world as Kobe Bryant Day. The date, 8/24, combines the two numbers Bryant wore during his career.
Current Laker LeBron James was one of a number of players around the NBA to pay tribute to Bryant, arriving for Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers wearing a black No. 24 Bryant jersey.
Los Angeles plans to wear special edition Bryant jerseys for Monday's game as the league continues to mourn his death in late January in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of his daughter Gianna and seven others.
Grizzlies' Ja Morant Says He Played Last 4 Games with Fractured Thumb Injury
Aug 15, 2020
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) plays in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies rookie point guard Ja Morant revealed he played with a fractured thumb during his team's final four games in the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
The Grizzlies' season ended Saturday with a 126-122 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA's play-in tournament for the eighth Western Conference playoff spot. Morant posted 35 points and eight assists.
The 21-year-old has been as good as advertised since he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three entering Saturday. He put himself firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation and will likely take home the award.
He's certainly provided his fair share of highlights:
Alongside second-year big man Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant is a centerpiece of the team's rebuilding efforts. The future is bright in Memphis, which has to be thrilled with the inside-outside combination it added in the past two drafts.
Damian Lillard Says Grizzlies' Ja Morant Is a 'Star' After Play-In Game Win
Aug 15, 2020
Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant, right, goes up for a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant finished Saturday's play-in contest with 35 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
He dazzled with his usual circus playmaking tricks and buried three of six shots from behind the arc.
The Grizzlies lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 126-122, though Morant walked off the floor with plenty of praise from guard Damian Lillard, who called the 21-year-old a star already.
“… he’s a star already as a rookie …”
Dame showed love to Ja Morant after their duel in the Western Conference Play-In 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aD1FyZTcOF
The battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference required Memphis to win two games before the Blazers could win once—a task that became even more daunting as Lillard averaged 51.3 points over his last three games.
He added another 31 points Saturday with his backcourt mate CJ McCollum pouring in 29 points himself. The most clutch shot from McCollum saw Morant get crossed up on a step-back with less than two minutes to play.
It was a learning moment for the rookie, and if his first year in the league is any indication, it's one he'll grow from rather quickly.
