Ja Morant Named NBA Rookie Of The Year
Sep 3, 2020, 5:15 PM
Ja Morant looks on before the start of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was named 2019-20 Rookie of the Year. The former second overall pick led the Grizzles in scoring at 17.8 points per game, and assists with at 7.3 per game.
Morant came up one first-place vote shy of being named the unanimous Rookie of the Year. New Orleans Pelicans forward, and the top overall pick in the draft Zion Williamson received the other first-place vote.
🏆 @JaMorant with his 2019-20 #KiaROY hardware! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/eHQsPEUU70
— NBA (@NBA) September 3, 2020
The Grizzlies nearly qualified for the postseason, losing in the NBA’s first play-in tournament to the Portland Trailblazers in Orlando. Morant struggled to score efficiently in the bubble as the Grizzlies lost their firm grip on the final playoff spot in the West. However, votes for the award were cast before the NBA season resumed.
Fellow 2019-20 award winners include Nick Nurse, named NBA Coach of the Year for the Toronto Raptors. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. While Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram was awarded Most Improved Player.
Congrats, @JaMorant! 2019-20 Rookie of the Year!
📰 https://t.co/b9Ra5WC7dw #KiaROY | #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/m0Bz7093y7
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) September 3, 2020
The league has yet to name its Sixth Man of the Year, Executive of the Year, Teammate of the Year, Sportsmanship Award, the NBA Cares Community Assist Award, and both All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
