Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies was once seen by many as the next face of the NBA. However, after a series of controversies and injuries and a few disappointing seasons overall for Memphis, the 26-year-old has been the subject of minimal trade interest despite his abundance of talent.
Now, his teammate Taj Gibson has come out in defense of Morant and compared the 26-year-old to none other than Derrick Rose.
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"Yeah, I love everything about him. People don't understand, when you play against him and you're actually on the court you see how he commands his team, how they embrace each other, how they love to work hard. Being a point guard, you have to be a leader. Being a point guard, you have to play hard. And your teammates are inspired by that," Gibson told All the Smoke. Said during his appearance on the podcast.
"The main thing I see between him and Derrick is athleticism, but also a desire to try to be great. Some players talk about being great, and do what they've got to do, but that young man is special," he concluded.
Although Morant and prime Derrick Rose may have a lot in common when it comes to skill and athleticism, Rose was known as the model professional throughout his career. Rose overcame a series of injuries to continue his NBA career, and showed an elite mindset while transitioning into a rotational contributor.
Additionally, Rose has also had a much cleaner career than Morant, who has already been embroiled in several controversies. In March 2023, Morant appeared on Instagram Live at a Denver-area nightclub and briefly displayed a handgun on camera.
Just a few weeks later, on May 14, 2023, another video surfaced showing Morant again holding a firearm during an Instagram Live broadcast inside a vehicle. Commissioner Adam Silver ultimately imposed a 25-game suspension to begin the 2023–24 season.
This, along with other controversies and injuries, has undoubtedly played a role in the decline in the value of Morant's stock, with the Grizzlies understood to be open to trade offers for the two-time All-Star.
