Michael Beasley makes bold prediction about NBA's future: "Ja Morant is going to be the best player in the league"
Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has garnered high praise for his potential from former number 2 overall pick Michael Beasley. With the former NBA player claiming that Morant will be the best player in the league in the future, the Grizzlies star may have huge expectations to live up to.
Morant has gained a reputation for being one of the most exciting players in the NBA. Turning the Memphis Grizzlies into playoff contenders over the last few seasons, Morant has earned himself a mention alongside the best in the league.
Morant's athleticism and in-game antics have resulted in a subsequent rise in popularity. While packing up highlight-reel dunks on a nightly basis, the Grizzlies star is trending on every platform almost every other day.
While bright lights often oversell the hype, Morant tends to live up to it. With a flashy style of playing mixed with the grit-and-grind mentality of Memphis, Morant is truly a different breed. However, former Miami Heat power forward Michael Beasley believes the guard could be something greater.
Beasley recently expressed his thoughts on Morant in an interview. While also talking about OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Beasley said:
"The next person I think is going to win MVP for the next couple years is Ja Morant. He’s one of those back-to-back MVPs. He got the potential to be a world talent."
"The way he plays is brand new. You got to watch how he handles the ball, you got to watch the moves he makes. His rights, his lefts, his euros. I ain’t gonna lie, Ja Morant is going to be the best player in the league."
Michael Beasley: ‘I ain’t gonna lie, Ja Morant is going to be the best player in the league’ heatnation.com/team-news/mich…
The NBA has been a guard's league for a while now. Although MVP award winners have primarily been big men in the last four years, the league remains dominated by skilled and talented guards, and Morant is the cream of the crop.
Leading the Grizzlies to a 28-13 record, Morant has definitely made an impact. However, there is still some debate about whether this is enough to earn the 23-year-old a mention in the MVP discussion.
Ja Morant is not ready to be MVP just yet
Ja Morant is certainly living up to expectations on his rise to superstardom. While impacting wins for the Memphis Grizzlies and getting crowds involved in games, Morant meets a lot of the criteria to be in the discussion. However, he is still a bit short of reaching that mark.
The MVP discussion currently sees young players such as Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum emerge as contenders. Seasoned veterans such as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo continue to pose a threat. If nothing else, the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, persists in making a solid claim to three-peat as the MVP of the NBA.
There is no argument regarding Morant's talent. His popularity speaks for itself with his recent shoe deal with Nike. The success he brings Memphis by being on the floor also conveys a great deal about his impact.
Morant's time will come. However, the competition to be the best in the business is stacked, to say the least.
Read: Ja Morant is daring to establish his name amongst top players in unchartered area for small guards: "Motherf**kers can’t stay in front of me”