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Luka Doncic finishes first, Ja Morant second in poll of league personnel for best young point guard

HoopsHype
·14 min read

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies have taken the NBA by storm this season. After flirting with the playoffs his rookie season, and making them by knocking off the Golden State Warriors — in San Francisco — in the play-in tournament in his second season, Morant has taken the full leap to superstardom in 2021-22, becoming an All-Star starter and first-team All-NBA candidate while leading the Grizzlies to a top-three seed in the Western Conference playoff picture. But is that enough to make Morant, whose Grizzlies face the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night, the most desirable point guard on a rookie contract in the NBA?
Source: Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. believe the Grizzlies are getting close to playoff form. But first they need to get Dillon Brooks back. dailymemphian.com/subscriber/sec… – 12:52 PM

NBA Math @NBA_Math
RPR MVP Predictor:
1. Nikola Jokic: 17.5
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 17.2
3. Joel Embiid: 16.3
4. DeMar DeRozan: 14.8
5. Luka Doncic: 14.5
6. Trae Young: 13.9
7. Ja Morant: 13.7
8. Stephen Curry: 13.5
9. Jayson Tatum: 13.5
10. Karl Anthony-Towns: 13.0
https://t.co/onGqrEd9sz pic.twitter.com/vwvwnXT3gy – 10:15 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic said he woke up with a sore back. And when Mitchell Robinson fouled him hard 3 minutes into the game he felt a twinge. He said it didn’t bother him the rest of the game.
Anyone who has endured back issues knows tomorrow could be a different story. – 12:29 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Knicks cool off red-hot Mavs again in blowout loss despite Luka Doncic’s strong second half dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 12:14 AM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
My dispatch from Dallas, where Julius Randle played role of Homecoming King and Luka Doncic remained winless at home against the Knicks nydailynews.com/sports/basketb… – 11:57 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic says of a suspension: “It won’t happen.” He added: “And I’m going to, how you say, challenge this one, too. It’s crazy.” – 11:24 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
I asked Jason Kidd if he was concerned that Doncic has no room for error, two techs shy of a suspension. “How many does he have?” Kidd asked. Told that Doncic has 14, Kidd said, “oh, there’s room for error. He’ll be fine.” – 11:16 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Mildly interesting:
Luka Doncic has a career record of 80-52 at home. The only team he hasn’t beaten at home is the Knicks (0-4).
(Submitted by @DeePee30) pic.twitter.com/HAXOVc2T4h – 10:55 PM

Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Luka Doncic got called for his 14th technical of the season, two shy of a one-game suspension. “You happy? You happy?” he asked ref Bill Kennedy a couple minutes later, loud enough to be heard on the TV broadcast. Doncic isn’t happy with Mavs being blown out by Knicks. – 10:46 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Tech on Doncic. That’s 14, leaving him two shy of an automatic one-game suspension. He keeps telling us he’s not going to let that happen, but his margin for error is all but gone.
And now Jason Kidd’s putting in the subs, all but tossing the white towel. – 10:43 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Deuce McBride a game-high +18 in 15 mins tonight.
You see that Doncic doesn’t get to isolate against a big when McBride is in the game b/c Deuce keeps fighting over screens. – 10:23 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Through three quarters, the Knicks lead the Mavericks 83-65.
• Barrett 16-6-4
• Randle 16-6-4
• Burks 12-8-5
• Robinson 10 & 10
• Doncic 29-6-4
Mavericks won the third quarter 31-22. – 10:22 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Mitchell Robinson botchd a rotation a few possessions ago, which led to both an open Dallas 3 and 47 popped blood vessels in Tom Thibodeau’s face. Big-time makeup play just now, coming back down and swatting a Luka Doncic step-back 3. Not many guys are capable of that. – 10:20 PM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
You had to figure the Mavericks would make a run. Luka is doing it almost in solo style. He’s got 17 points in the third, Mavericks have outscored the Knicks 26-13 and the deficit has been sliced to 74-60 with 2:52 left in the third. – 10:14 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Uh, oh. Knicks 74, Dallas 60. Doncic has 17 points in the third quarter and Mavs are on a 21-7 run. Per NBA Courtside, Doncic has accounted for 80.8% of Dallas’ points in the 3rd quarter (17 points, 2 assists, 4 points created from assists). – 10:14 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
Luka Doncic is doing things — 17 points this quarter with 2:52 left — and Mavs have cut the lead in half from 28 to 74-60. – 10:13 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Luka Doncic has 17 points in the third quarter, and the Mavericks have narrowed a 28-point lead to 14. – 10:13 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
14 third-quarter points for Doncic. – 10:11 PM

Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
So much great play of late, there was bound to be a clunker, and so it is tonight as Mavs trail NY 61-34. Mavs shot 1-21 from 3pt including missing their 1st 19. Shot 27.3% overall. Doncic w/12 on 4-12. NY led by 14 from Barrett, 10-7 from Robinson. 2nd half soon @theeagledallas – 9:43 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Halftime. Knicks lead the Mavericks 61-34.
• Barrett 14-3-3
• Robinson 10 & 7
• Randle 7-4-4
• Burks 9-7-4
• Doncic 12 & 2
Mavericks shooting 27 percent from the field, 1-for-21 from deep. – 9:39 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Through one quarter, the Knicks lead the Mavericks 31-17.
• Robinson 6 & 3
• Randle 4-3-3
• Fournier 5 pts
• Doncic 10 & 2 – 9:09 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Knicks ended Mavs’ 6-game winning streak in January and they’re off to a strong start it ending Dallas’ 5-game streak tonight. Doncic 3-point play brings Mavs within 24-16, but it’s been tough sledding. – 9:05 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Clyde on Doncic: “He’s one of the biggest crybabies in the league. Look at him, he’s always crying.” – 8:57 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
It’s 13-4 and awfully quiet in here. Mavs haven’t given the home fans much about which to cheer. The Doncic-Brunson backcourt is a combined 1-for-7 from the field. – 8:49 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
A photo or the best young player in the NBA. And also Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/pay55bbwFl – 8:49 PM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic grabbed at his back after that foul, still wincing. – 8:45 PM

Kyle Ratke @Kyle_Ratke
Trying to buy a Luka rookie card before the playoffs?
What prices could look like in this week’s @Three_Stars Card Corner.
#TBPN pic.twitter.com/TyjmFyIJYh – 8:25 PM

Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Mavs starters: Bullock, DFS, Powell, Brunson, Doncic
NY starters: Barrett, Randle, Robinson, Fournier, Burks
7:40 tip @theeagledallas – 8:14 PM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
New AJ 36 Low PEs for Luka tonight. pic.twitter.com/D3jLSqytxa – 7:56 PM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
There’s only one team Luka Doncic has never beaten in Dallas:
The New York Knicks – 7:17 PM

Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
As far as replacing Isaiah Stewart tonight, Casey said it’ll be a “three-man tag team” between Marvin Bagley III, Kelly Olynyk and Luka Garza. – 5:23 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
had a blast talking about ja morant with the gods @bigwos and @Justin Verrier, who were kind enough to also let me get off some celtics takes open.spotify.com/episode/72vn6e… – 5:03 PM

Justin Verrier @JustinVerrier
New Group Chat with @BigWos and special guest @Michael Pina on which late-season trends have staying power and Mike’s Ja Morant profile: open.spotify.com/episode/72vn6e… – 4:47 PM

The Ringer @ringernba
💬 Kyrie’s comments on facing James Harden
💬 Which late-season trends are real?
💬 The ascension of Ja Morant
‘Group Chat’ with @Justin Verrier, @BigWos, and @Michael Pina: open.spotify.com/episode/72vn6e… – 4:25 PM

Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Shaquille O’Neal just gave Ja Morant all the motivation he needed to prove he deserve the label as the game’s best player
#NBA #Grizzlies #GrindCity
sportscasting.com/shaquille-onea… – 3:03 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
ICYMI: For this month’s magazine, I profiled Ja Morant: https://t.co/hzijUnNUm8 pic.twitter.com/3wy9TcTOjl – 10:00 AM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Ja Morant last night:
✅ 24 PTS
✅ 8 REB
✅ 8 AST
Morant has scored at least 20 points in 21 straight games, the longest such streak in @Memphis Grizzlies history by seven games.
He has recorded at least 20p/5r/5a in 26 games this season, the franchise single-season record by 10 games. pic.twitter.com/KZy9S1yKg2 – 9:51 AM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
On International Women’s Day, Ja Morant said that his mother taught him to respect, he has passed those lessons to his little sister, and that his daughter can do whatever she wants in life.
“She is a woman, and she is no less than anybody in this world” – 10:40 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant said the team is close to playing at the level they hope to be for the playoffs.
He thinks the team just needs to find some consistency with the things that it does well defensively and in transition. – 10:36 PM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Just to give you an idea of how the anticipation builds on those Ja Morant highlights:
My head was down when De’Anthony Melton and Morant got in transition. I heard the crowd volume slowly picking up. Looked up and Morant’s head was at the rim.
Fans expect it at this point. – 9:29 PM

Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
JA MORANT taking flight on a Tuesday night! – 9:28 PM

Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
Ja Morant just made eye contact with the rim, my goodness – 9:28 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant highlight dunk alert. Almost hit his face on the rim. – 9:28 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Ja Morant is getting close to that triple-double. Needs 2 more assists and 2 more rebounds. – 9:25 PM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Halftime: Grizzlies 77 Pelicans 58
Memphis shot 55% overall and 52% on 11 made 3-pointers. Hot. Desmond Bane has 18 points and Ja Morant has 14.
Grizzlies killer CJ McCollum is up to 25 points. – 8:49 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Jaren Jackson Jr. as that Ja Morant play unfolded: “PUT HIM IN JAIL, AND ONE AHHHH” – 8:43 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
That’s a good foul by Ja Morant (although it was his third). Good form tackling (minus the takedown on JV).
Good to see from your WR. Maybe could play a little special teams if needed. – 8:40 PM

Chris Herrington @ChrisHerrington
Ja Morant just tried to wrap up Jonas Valanciunas to prevent a layup and I don’t think he could quite get his arms around him. – 8:40 PM

Peter Edmiston @peteredmiston
I’m just not a fan of Tyus Jones / Ja Morant lineups. Taylor Jenkins seems to want to make them a thing but to me, it creates confused offense and underwhelming defense. – 8:13 PM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Grizzlies going with Tyus Jones over John Konchar as a sub a little past the midway point of the first quarter. Taylor Jenkins getting more of those lineups with Ja Morant and Jones. – 8:07 PM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Ja Morant making a 30+ footer to beat the shot clock … and then Desmond Bane banging his third triple home seconds afterwards??
Deficit is 29-10 and we’re just 5:32 in – 8:00 PM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Grizzlies about to make the Pelicans pass the sticks in the first quarter. triples flying everywhere. Ja Morant just pulled up from West Memphis. Desmond Bane (11) has outscored the Pelicans (9) through 6:28. – 7:59 PM

Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Don’t look now, (definitely look) Ja Morant is doing fun things again. – 7:58 PM

Meghan Triplett @Meghan_Triplett
Ja Morant said he is time tonight!! – 7:58 PM

Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
JA MORANT ALL THE WAY FROM TIN ROOF – 7:58 PM

Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
name a better connection than the Ja Morant and Ziaire Williams alley oop. I’ll wait – 7:51 PM

Clay Bailey @claybailey9
Here are your starters for Grizzlies-Pelicans.
NOP: Tony Snell, Jaxon Hayes, ol’ friend Jonas Valanciunas, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones.
Grizz start Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Steven Adams, Jaren Jackson Jr and Ziaire Williams.
Set your fantasy teams and betting line accordingly. – 7:35 PM

J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
ja morant national TV game tonight pic.twitter.com/nalkOmtXns – 6:52 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
Ja Morant is right-handed, but prefers to drive left. He calls it “basketball deception”. But also: His left arm is *longer* than his right https://t.co/hzijUnNUm8 pic.twitter.com/onyRjab6ll – 12:49 PM

NBA Math @NBA_Math
RPR MVP Predictor:
1. Nikola Jokic: 17.6
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 16.9
3. Joel Embiid: 16.5
4. DeMar DeRozan: 14.9
5. Luka Doncic: 14.7
6. Trae Young: 13.9
7. Ja Morant: 13.6
8. Stephen Curry: 13.6
9. Jayson Tatum: 13.2
10. Karl Anthony-Towns: 12.9
https://t.co/onGqrEuKR9 pic.twitter.com/KysraMdyAf – 11:00 AM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
He has a 47-inch vertical, scores more in the paint than LeBron ever did, and is the most sought after Secret Santa in Grizzlies history.
For today’s @SInow Daily Cover, I profiled this NBA season’s brightest star: Ja Morant https://t.co/hzijUnNUm8 pic.twitter.com/dm8rIBc7ZK – 9:15 AM

Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
Herb Jones’ individual defense on Ja Morant could determine the outcome between the Pelicans and Grizzlies.
In their lone individual matchup back in November, Herb held Ja to 2 of 6 shooting. Here’s to history repeating itself. https://t.co/b6NIYU38j7 pic.twitter.com/uc7wMpfPHF – 8:03 AM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron James was among the nominees for Western Conference Player of the Week along with De’Aaron Fox (SAC), Brandon Ingram (NOP), Donovan Mitchell (UTA) and Ja Morant (MEM) pic.twitter.com/ZUvCdY7Zag – 3:37 PM

More on this storyline

To answer that question, ESPN reached out to 15 league scouts and executives and asked them to rank six star point guards who are still on their rookie deals — the Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and Morant — in terms of who they’d want moving forward. It was a question that engendered plenty of debate, and a lot of hemming and hawing over how people would ultimately decide to rank them. And while Morant received four of the 15 first-place votes, it was Doncic who got the other 11 and took home the top spot in the survey. -via ESPN / March 10, 2022

Luka Doncic finished first, Ja Morant finised second, Trae Young third, LaMelo Ball fourth, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fifth and Darius Garland sixth. -via ESPN / March 10, 2022

Doncic was the only player who didn’t receive a lower vote than second among the six players. Morant, meanwhile, had eight second-place votes, two thirds and a fourth to settle in at a comfortable second-place finish. After the top two is where things got interesting. While Young was the only other player to receive a second-place vote — he got three of them — he also received eight third-place votes, placing him a clear third. Young also picked up fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place votes. -via ESPN / March 10, 2022