Everywhere you look, people have something to say about Ja Morant. The headlines love the drama. The internet feeds off the noise. But if you were watching the Grizzlies last night or any night – really watching – you saw the version of Ja that doesn’t make the rounds on social media. The leader. The teacher. The one who lifts the people around him without needing a spotlight.
Morant wasn’t in uniform. He was in coach mode. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, he was engaged… animated during timeouts, talking with teammates, giving direction, and staying connected to every possession. His voice never quieted. His presence never faded.
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo, who took over the team last season and is building a strong relationship with Ja, made it clear how much that matters.
“It’s a huge advantage for us,” Iisalo said. “He’s asking stuff of me and giving some tips there for the guys. Overall, really good communication, really good leadership, both from him and also from Jaren (Jackson Jr.) and our veteran guys.”
This is not new behavior. It’s just what Ja does. He’s always been wired to lead – whether through energy, example, or action. Teammates see it every day, even when the cameras don’t.
“He’s a coach right now,” said Jaren Jackson Jr. “He’s coaching, just like he does with Twelve Time in AAU. He’s doing his thing. He knows the game. He’s a point guard, so they kind of see the floor very well. And he just says what he’s seeing, talking us through things.”
Veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope echoed the same thing.
“His support has been good,” Caldwell-Pope said. “He’s been cheering the team on, helping the young guys out as far as the point guard position, talking to everybody and saying what he’s seeing on the bench. So that’s great for us, him being there, taking the next step on being that leader, being that vocal leader. I think he’s doing a great job at it.”
There is no clickbait in that. No headline to twist. Just a star player who shows up, even when he’s sidelined, and refuses to let his team’s spirit drop.
The truth is, this is who Ja Morant is… consistent, connected, and committed to the group. He leads on the court, he leads off it, and he leads when no one is paying attention. That’s not a new side of him. That’s the real one.
