Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant vowed last December to stop dunking in the name of self-preservation. After battling multiple injuries attributed to awkward landings and hard falls, Morant said that he was omitting dunks, a trademark part of his game.
“I’m not trying to dunk at all,” Morant told reporters, per ESPN. “Y’all think I’m lying. I’m dead serious.”
“Sometimes I get knocked out the air and [a foul] don’t get called, and now I’m out longer than what I’m supposed to be. Sometimes the foul might get called; I still hit the floor, but after the game you might feel that little fall. So I just pick and choose, man. Hey, two points is two points. I get it done. That’s all that matters.”
At the time, Morant’s decision to tone down his dunking seemed smart. After all, we’ve seen explosive NBA athletes such as Derrick Rose, John Wall and Kobe Bryant begin to play under the rim more late in their careers to prevent injuries.
As much of a bummer as it was for fans of the guard’s acrobatic, awe-inspiring finishes at the rim, Morant’s decision to value health over highlights was understandable.
Fortunately, Morant’s claim to never dunk again was greatly exaggerated and the two-time All-Star has resumed his habit of putting defenders on a poster.
This month, Morant has already dunked three times. Oddly enough, his most impressive dunk, a vicious posterization of 7-foot-3 Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, was called off due to a foul on the floor.
Despite the bucket not counting, the jaw-dropping highlight sent the internet into a frenzy.
Morant spoke about the vicious slam after the game, stating that he didn’t hear the whistle and had his attention set on scoring.
“This whistle was on my gather. I kept going with the play because normally I don’t hear the whistle when I drive to the rack,” Morant told reporters.
As far as dunking on the league’s leading shot-blocker, Wembanyama, Morant said it was just another day at the office.
“Just another person at the rim,” Morant said with a smile. “I’ve dunked on plenty of people, bro. He don’t get no passes. If I see you at the rim, Imma try you.”
Hopefully, Morant stays healthy and avoids awkward landings, but it is great to see that his promise to omit dunking wasn’t true. The entertainment value he brings to the arena each game is nearly unrivaled, and it’s nice to know that NBA fans won’t be deprived of his gravity-defying finishes.
With the Grizzlies star soaring to the rim once more, rim-protectors around the league should be on notice, as Wemby won’t be the last victim he claims.
