Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has taken his game to the next level this season, being the clear leader to take the Most Improved Player award home while also getting MVP buzz thanks to his performance with the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Morant is one of the biggest stories this season, earning a lot of praise wherever he goes, even from those that inspired him when he was younger. Ahead of their Wednesday night clash, Kevin Durant talked about the 22-year-old point guard and his impact on his team and the league.
The Brooklyn Nets superstar even claimed that Morant plays like a Hall of Famer, comparing him to four players that are already immortal and others that will be when their careers are over.
"He's a combination of players, I feel," Durant said, via Nick Friedell of ESPN. "I think the greatest players in our game can transform into anybody at any given point. And I think Ja's on the way to that. When he's playing, I see like two or three, four different Hall of Famers in his game. From [Allen] Iverson, to he might make a [Michael] Jordan-like layup, or he might run down the court like a [Russell] Westbrook or a [Derrick Rose].
"And his float game is up there with some of the best that's ever played. I don't want to gas him up too much since we're playing against him, but I think the sky's the limit for him. His future is obviously bright. He makes everybody better ... even opponents, so it's about the level you approach that game with and I'm looking forward to it."
Ja is having a terrific season. The young star is playing with a chip on his shoulder, leading the Grizzlies to become the second-best team in the Western Conference, only behind the strong Phoenix Suns. Some say he could have a similar playoff run to Trae Young last season.
Morant is having the best season of his career so far, and we don't know what his ceiling is. If he keeps this pace, we could be talking about the face of the league in a couple of years.
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