‘Looks Like an Average Player,’ ‘Where Is His Bounce?’ — NBA World Sounds Alarm Over Ja Morant’s Scrimmage Clip With Blazers
· Yahoo Sports
Ja Morant has yet to take the floor for the Portland Trail Blazers, but that hasn’t stopped fans from raising concerns about the 6-foot-2 guard.
On Sunday, the Trail Blazers shared a clip of Morant’s highlights from a team scrimmage. Fans were quick to point out that the two-time All-Star seemed to be missing the usual spring in his step.
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NBA Fans Put Ja Morant Under Fire Over Trail Blazers Scrimmage Clip
The footage shared by Portland showed Morant making a series of drives to the basket and throwing dimes to his teammates. But what caught fans’ eyes was his apparent lack of athleticism.
One league observer claimed that the clip made Morant look like an “average” player:
“I’m not going to lie, he looks like an average player now. Can’t get by anyone or rise up over anyone with his athleticism anymore, and he’s still weighing a buck fifty. Hope I’m wrong!”
Another also raised concerns about Morant’s lack of “bounce.”
“Where is his bounce? 😭 This ain’t Ja please,” the X user wrote.
“That [expletive] weak,” one user added.
A Trail Blazers fan account reacted similarly, saying: “He can’t dunk anymore.”
One basketball enthusiast came to Morant’s defense, criticizing other fans for judging him based on practice highlights:
“I always laugh at dorks that watch 30-second clips of practice highlights and pretend they know what [they’re] talking about.”
Another user claimed that Morant still has the potential to be an All-Star in the upcoming season, writing:
“Y’all don’t realize that if Ja is even 20% better than last season he an All-Star.”
MORE: NBA Fans React to Ja Morant’s Shooting Form During Recent Practice Clip
Some of Morant’s most memorable moments in the league have come with his head above the rim, including an emphatic dunk over 7-foot-4 San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, which ultimately did not count.
He was also widely considered one of the most explosive players in the league during his early days with the Memphis Grizzlies. But the 27-year-old has struggled with health setbacks, playing just 79 games over the past three seasons.
After years of nagging injuries and off-court issues, Morant now faces a new challenge in Portland.
He may have to embrace a different role with the Trail Blazers, considering the team is overflowing with guards, including Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe.
Morant’s limited defensive impact and subpar 3-point shooting (31.1% for his career) make his athleticism and playmaking crucial parts of his skill set. Given that he has yet to play in a game for Portland, it is too soon for fans to draw conclusions about the guard’s athleticism.
With the way his stock has fallen over the years, no one needs his Trail Blazers stint to work out more than Morant does. Only time will tell how the 2019 No. 2 pick rises to the challenge.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.