Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, Rookie of the Year favorite, feels he’s ready to take off after making physical improvements during the NBA hiatus.
Morant, who is on the 6-foot-3, 175-pound list, said he added 12 pounds during the break of more than three months. He also believes his right knee, which was repaired in minor arthroscopic surgery last June, is stronger now than it has been throughout a rookie campaign highlighted by spectacular dunks.
“My knee feels a lot better, painless,” Morant said during an availability of virtual media on Thursday. “I really feel like I’m leaving the floor easier and jumping higher. I’ve taken this time to focus on my body, making sure everything feels good, so when I go out to play, I’ll be fine.” “
Morant, who averaged 17.6 points and 6.9 assists per game for the surprising Grizzlies, said adding strength has always been a priority in his development. He has seen the benefits during the regular collection games he played in the Memphis area during the coronavirus hiatus.
“I’m stronger, I can absorb contact and stuff,” said Morant. “Able to use my body more, go through different screens. That’s what I was looking to build going to Orlando, to be able to do the things I’ve been doing before, but better.”
Morant, who will miss his daughter’s first birthday due to competing in the NBA bubble in Florida, welcomes speculation that he has heard that the Grizzlies will lose their understanding of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Expected to endure a season of rebuilding with his young team, Memphis (32-33) has a 3½ game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings in the race for eighth place. If the ninth-place team is within four games after the opening part of the eight-game schedule, there will be match-by-matchup. In that case, the ninth-place team would have to beat the eighth-place team in two consecutive games to claim the final seed of the playoffs.
“We have been motivated by skeptics throughout the season,” said Morant. “We’ll just go out there and continue to play our game; don’t live and die for the game. Just play together and try to come out on top. We’ve been doing that. We’re in position 8 right now, so going to Orlando is just more motivation. , fuel for our fire. “
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