Draymond Green doesn’t think Ja Morant should win Most Improved this season. Instead, he believes the Grizzlies guard should be in contention for the MVP award.
The exciting guard has successfully made the three-year leap and Memphis are making the most of it. The Grizzlies are sitting high up in the West thanks to Morant who is averaging 24.4 points, 6.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 34 games so far this season.
Morant’s spectacular performances against the Warriors no doubt influenced Green’s opinion. Morant is the only player in the league this season to have scored multiple 15+ point quarters against Golden State. The two teams have developed quite the rivalry with Memphis leading the season series 2-1.
Speaking on his podcast, Green says he already knew that Morant was going to take things up a notch this season. “The reason I don’t think Ja should get Most Improved is because Ja (this year) didn’t just become Ja. We knew last year Ja was serious. We knew he was going to be a force to be reckoned with,” said Green who was knocked out of last season’s Play-In Tournament by Morant’s Grizzlies.
There was no question from Green on whether Morant has improved, “Now, has he improved? Absolutely. You can tell he lives in the gym and works on his game. He’s 100% improved. What I love most is those guys on that team follow him. They follow his demeanor. He leads that team and that organization. And that’s what I appreciate most about Ja Morant.”
When I say ‘hell no’, in my opinion, Ja has already passed that. Let’s talk about the MVP conversation.
“He’s playing at an MVP-level, All-Star starter, all of those things he is at that level. [Ja Morant] is an incredible, incredible athlete. But even more so than being an incredible athlete, he’s an incredible basketball player and an extremely smart basketball player,” Green said.
Morant’s performances of late has even seen him climb up the ranking in the MVP race which is exactly where Green feels he belongs. Morant is currently the fifth favorite to take out the award this season. Green’s teammate Stephen Curry remains the hot favorite to take home his third MVP award ahead of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite Morant being the heavy favorite to win Most Improved, Green believes Miles Bridges deserves to take home the award. The Hornets forward is enjoying a breakout season, averaging career-highs across the board and is in the running to make his first All-Star game.
The Warriors meet the Grizzlies for their final matchup of the season on March 28. No doubt Ja Morant will look to put in an MVP-like performance. Draymond Green wouldn’t expect anything less.
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