Ja Morant: ‘I Honestly Don’t Care About Rookie of the Year’

Ja Morant doesn’t care about taking home NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

The presumptive favorite for the award says he is only concerned about leading Memphis into the playoffs.

Morant, 20, finished with 13 points Monday night in the Grizzlies’ 127-88 road blowout of the Atlanta Hawks.

Per The AP:

“We’ve got to come out from the jump, even if we aren’t making shots,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “They got out of the slump there. And then we just kind of found a groove.”

Trae Young led Atlanta with 19 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

Morant said he enjoyed facing Young for the first time in a matchup of young stars at point guard.

“I study his game,” Morant said. “After every game I text him. I just signed a jersey for him. Said, ‘Next generation.’”

Related Ja Morant: ‘Doubters Said I Couldn’t Shoot. I’m Proving Them Wrong’