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On Tuesday, Ja Morant scored a playoff-high 47 points, joining Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as the only players under 23 to drop 45+ points twice in the postseason.
Down four with four minutes remaining in Game 2, Ja scored the final 15 points as the Grizzlies tied the series.
Morant was awarded Most Improved Player, but after a stellar regular season and his postseason domination, neither the award nor his salary reflect just how good he’s been this year.
- Morant’s postseason points scored (210), “clutch” points (42), APG (10.1), and assist percentage (43.1) all top the league.
- But his $9.6M salary this year ranks third on the Grizzlies and 137th in the NBA.
- When Morant inevitably makes an All-NBA team this season, he’ll be eligible for a five-year, $181M maximum extension this summer.
The Grizzlies will have plenty of room for Ja’s max contract next season. They have this season’s second-lowest payroll ($117.3M) and only $97.8 million committed for 2022-23.
They’re still long shots to win the title this year (+1600), but with a rising superstar and a young team full of potential, the Grizzlies have given Memphis a contender for years to come.
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