|
Welcome back to your Grizzlies Insider, where the season has begun and we deliver the latest NBA news and analysis straight to your inbox twice a week.
Memphis Tigers star Emoni Bates interrupted the question on Sunday, Oct. 31, before it was finished being asked.
“He is my favorite player,” Bates said of Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
Not one of his favorite players. He is the favorite player.
And since the highly touted recruit arrived in Memphis, he has found time to connect with the Grizzlies point guard. They soon could be sharing the same NBA stage.
“It’s real good,” Bates said of his friendship with Morant on Sunday. “Me and him talked before I got down here and he told me he would take me under his wing. We kick it off the court. I see him as a big brother. He talked to me, even today, telling me where to find the right reads and stuff like that. I had to make sure I kept my head in the game to find the right play.”
This is not the first time that Morant has taken in a local talent, of course. He also mentored Tennessee freshman Kennedy Chandler during his final season at Briarcrest Christian School last year. Now it’s Bates’ turn to learn from someone he hopes to play against one day.
“That’s basketball,” Morant said. “You build relationships with guys in the basketball world. Everybody knows everybody. With me coming up and him being highly recruited — I just liked his game. So I followed him and he started following me. Conversations happened after that.”
And some of those conversations included coming to Memphis to play for the Tigers so that they could play in the same town. Perhaps the point guard might be Penny Hardaway’s recruiting ace.
“I was just talking to him,” Morant said. “He’s a great dude and always wants to learn and get better. He texts me and asks where he can get better at.
“He texted me yesterday and said, ‘I have a game at 1 p.m.’ So I texted him back and said, ‘I’ll be there.’ Then after the game he was texting me again asking how he played.
“He’s been to my house and my parents cooked for him. It’s like he’s my little brother. Whatever I can do to help him — and I’ll be seeing him soon in this league — I’m going to continue to be there for him no matter what.”
Morant has been a consistent supporter of the Tigers and often attends games when the Grizzlies are not playing, like the one on Sunday. The Tigers even scheduled a home game (Dec. 10) against Morant’s alma mater, Murray State, that will be followed the next day by a Grizzlies game against the Houston Rockets.
“That’s just me showing my support,” Morant said about his appearance Sunday. “I love basketball, and Penny is my guy. I’m in Memphis, and it’s basketball. I had former players when I was at Murray be there for our games. It’s just me showing support.
“But the situation with me and Emoni is different. We have a deeper relationship, as far as brothers. Whatever I can do to help him, I’m going to do.”
More from your Insider
For more than 25 seasons, the Grizzlies have worn threads widely beloved by NBA fans all over. Now they will have another style in the rotation.
Jaren Jackson Jr. wasn’t at his best during the Grizzlies’ first six games this season, but we’ve been here before with Pau Gasol, Mike Conley and Rudy Gay.
The Memphis defense left a lot to be desired in a blowout loss to the Heat, which shot 52% from the field, and 57% from 3-point range.
Morant’s drive to be an All-Star is off to a fantastic start as the Grizzlies return from a tough West Coast trip.
Morant makes the magic happen in multiple ways.
..... |
