Ja Morant has shockingly simple, NSFW explanation for his success

When asked why he’s so hard to keep out of the paint, Ja Morant said exactly what every fan has been thinking since he came into the league.

Ja Morant plays with an unbelievable confidence and that’s always extended to saying exactly what’s on his mind, no matter how much bulletin board material he might be offering opponents.

Morant is averaging 27.7 points, 7.8 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season, helping lead the Memphis Grizzlies to the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings, just a half-game behind the New Orleans Pelicans. But perhaps his most incredible achievement this season is, at 6-foot-2, ranking seventh in the league in points in the paint per game, at 14.8.

Asked to explain his interior dominance at his size, Morant answered with his characteristic blend of honesty and bravado.

Why is Ja Morant so hard to keep out of the paint?

Morant is second in the league in drives this season, at 22.0 per game. He trails Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but his mark this year would have led the league in seven of the 10 seasons since player tracking data first made this stat available.

His lightning-fast first step, explosive speed and advanced dribbling are the elements that make him so hard to stay in front of. But it’s the way he deploys them with creativity and fearlessness that really makes him such a tough cover. You may not love the way he says it, but it’s hard to argue with Ja Morant’s assessment — no one in the NBA can stay in front of him right now.

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