2019 NBA Mock Draft: The dust clears from the NBA trade deadline

One writer who has covered the Racers for generations is quoted in a recent Bleacher Report profile as saying about Morant’s season, “I think what’s different about Ja is when we go on the road, how the opposing fans are coming to watch him.” It extends further than just the attention brought to Murray State this season — the whole NBA world is watching him. Sure, you can only see his games on ESPN+ or if you happen to leave very near Murray, Kentucky. There is much riding, however, on Morant’s translation and continued growth in the pros.

Morant has changed everything for the Racers, suddenly a realistic possibility for a berth in the NCAA tournament. He has also changed everything for himself with his play, rising from anonymous draft geek fixation to bona fide top-three prospect. The numbers speak for themselves — 26.5 points, 11.2 assists and six rebounds per 40 minutes — but Morant brings added intrigue as the latest in a lineage of super quick point guards the league thought it had snuffed out years ago.

Getting to the basket and to the free throw line (Morant is excellent in isolation situations getting to the rim and shoots 8.9 free throws per 40 minutes) are still vital in the NBA but most teams mandate shooting at every spot. So when basketball tornadoes like Russell Westbrook or De’Aaron Fox manufacture easy points without consistent jumpers, it turns heads.

Morant will succeed in much the same way as these kindred spirits. He is shooting just 33 percent from 3 but takes nearly five per game. The maximum value for Morant, though, will be his ability to drive and kick and ignite transition chances out of thin air.