Kevin Durant makes bold claim regarding former Rookie of the Year - "He's the most marketable guy in our league... The face of our league going forward"
Kevin Durant has called Ja Morant the most marketable face in the NBA following their epic showdown on Monday.
Morant is set to become a signature athlete with Nike and will have his own shoe line with the megabrand. When asked about how well Morant's shoes would do, Kevin Durant heaped praise on the Memphis Grizzlies star, saying (via Nick Friedell):
"He's the most marketable guy in our league -- the face of our league going forward. There are so many kids that are inspired by what he does."
Morant is arguably the most popular young star in the NBA following his epic 2021-22 season. He made giant strides in his third year in the league, averaging 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
He made his debut All-Star appearance as a starter, won the Most Improved Player of the Year award and even found himself in the MVP conversation. Morant also received his debut All-NBA selection. The former Rookie of the Year led the Grizzlies to the second seed in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record.
Ja Morant has undoubtedly made his way to the top in style. His unique skillset, coupled with his unreal athleticism, has seen him produce highlight reels consistently. He was reportedly among the top ten players in jersey sales last season.
Morant has continued his meteoric rise with some staggering performances this season. Across four games this year, he has averaged 35.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He will likely gain more prominence in MVP conversations if he keeps up his production.
With his upcoming shoe line in association with Nike, Morant has certainly become one of the most marketable players in the league. This will likely bolster his chances of becoming the face of the NBA in due time.
Kevin Durant may be spot-on with his prediction about Morant's future prospects.
KD doubled down on his praise of Ja Morant after the game. "He's the most marketable guy in our league -- the face of our league going forward. There are so many kids that are inspired by what he does."
Ja Morant and Memphis Grizzlies prevail against Kevin Durant's Brooklyn Nets in epic battle
The Brooklyn Nets vs. Memphis Grizzlies game will be a memorable contest for fans. Stars from both teams went off in Monday's epic showdown at the FedEx Forum.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving bagged 37 points apiece for Brooklyn, while Ja Morant and Desmond Bane recorded 38 each for Memphis. It was the first time since 1983 and only the third time in league history that four players scored 35+ points in an NBA game.
The Grizzlies eventually won the game 134-124.
Desmond Bane (38 PTS), Ja Morant (38 PTS), Kevin Durant (37 PTS) and Kyrie Irving (37 PTS) are the first 4 players to each record 35+ points in a game since 1983.
It's only the 3rd time this has happened in NBA history. https://t.co/fOXIlDSK54
It was a closely contested game until the first half, with the Nets taking a five-point lead into the break. However, Memphis came out swinging in the third quarter behind Desmond Bane's 19-point effort during that stretch.
Bane shot the lights out, making four of five attempts from deep and seven of nine from the floor during that period. Kevin Durant notably had 17 points in the third quarter, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Grizzlies from going on a 45-28 run in that period.
Ja Morant and Bane alone had more 3-pointers (12) than the entire Brooklyn Nets roster (nine). It proved to be decisive in the eventual scheme of things as Memphis came away with a win.
The Nets are now 1-2 for the season, while the Grizzlies are up 3-1.