Despite Stephen Curry’s belief that the NBA star is the league’s most athletic player pound for pound, the latter has squared off against excellent athletes throughout his career.
Throughout his remarkable career, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has faced up against some of the game’s most talented players.
Curry acknowledged Memphis Grizzlies standout Ja Morant and said: when asked who he thinks is the best athletic player in the NBA.
“I think pound for pound, he’s the most athletic player in the league. Russell Westbrook when he was in his full prime. John Wall. We always talk about those guys as being the most athletic in the league.”
The comparison with athletes like Russell Westbrook and John Wallsees Morant placed in high regard with Curry. Considering how explosive the two guards were in their prime, the Grizzlies star is certainly in good company.
Morant truly is an immensely gifted athlete. His ability to get off the ground and defy gravity has seen him throw down some of the most electrifying dunks in recent years.
His fearlessness in attacking opposing bigs at the rim has led to some of the nastiest poster dunks in recent memory screenshot
Curry’s declaration of Morant’s greatness as an athlete also comes with a key qualifier.
The mention of the “pound for pound”aspect suggests that, at his size, 6’2″ and a lean 174lbs, Morant is capable of producing superhuman moments of physical prowess. This elevates the 25-year-old’s standing without downplaying the athleticism of bigger players.
The NBA has seen several athletes boasting tremendous physical gifts like speed, vertical jumping ability, etc. But it has also become increasingly common for such players often fade out of the league if they lack fundamental skills.
In this regard, Morant establishes himself as a significantly more holistic basketball player.
While his jumping ability is noteworthy and draws attention because of the flashy plays, the Grizzlies guard is capable of many more jaw-dropping feats that cement his status as a star, regardless of his controversial naturel.
Not only that, but last year Morant shot 45.4% from the field and 30.9% from beyond the arc, resulting in an amazing point, rebound, and assist total of 23.2 per game.
The guard has persistently sought to increase his scoring range, despite the fact that he isn’t usually seen as a perimeter threat.
The 25-year-old may not have been named to the All-Star team last year, but he was instrumental in Memphis’s playoff run and eventual postseason berth. The Grizzlies were unable to capitalize on his return to form after suffering a series of first-round ailments.
If it weren’t for injuries, Memphis would have been a consistent postseason contender.
Even though the Grizzlies will keep putting pieces around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., their near future is uncertain after trading for Desmond Bane this offseason.
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