“Conquer your fears,” as the saying goes. However, when players like Ja Morant casually dive over defenders for a slam dunk, it leaves ‘conquering’ behind. You’re sure to worry not just about the Grizzlies’ main man, but also about the players right below him. The 25-year-old point guard has been a sensation for the Memphis crowd and hasn’t missed out on turning the heads of even high-profile individuals, including ex-President Barack Obama.

President Obama, a longtime fan of the NBA, is well-versed in the game. His experience playing basketball in high school gives him a deeper understanding of the sport’s nuances. Therefore, he has eyes on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, despite being a Chicago Bulls fan. Why? Well, it’s mostly because of Morant and his promising performance for the team. However, the once-most powerful leader of the world is concerned about Ja.

Speaking on The Younger Man & The Three podcast on Spotify, Obama expressed his excitement to see what Memphis will achieve this year. The team has recently emerged as a legitimate playoff contender, and most fans agree that much of the credit goes to Ja Morant for his leadership and command on the court. Obama agreed that “Ja can do some things on that court.” However, the former President noted that he’s “glad” he’s not Ja’s parent. “Every time he [Morant] goes up for one of those dunks, you’re worried.”

Luckily, the on-court activities of the hooper limit the concerns. Because, if Obama decided to pick up Ja Morant’s off-court issues, then maybe he’d have more things to ponder upon. Nonetheless, Grizzlies fans are looking up to their hero Ja Morant for the ultimate magic on the court. With zero banners and conference titles, the team is undoubtedly hungry for a trophy. So, can the PG turn the tables in the 2024/25 season?

Ja Morant is a concern for the Grizzlies despite his promising presence in the team

Two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant was the second overall pick in the 2019 drafts. Since his debut in the league, the 6’2″ star has shown signs of greatness. There hasn’t been a season where he’s underperformed. With a career average of 22.5 points, the Memphis Grizzlies’ foreman has been the beacon of hope for the team and their fans. However, not everything is a cakewalk in the intense league. This is because injuries and off-court issues have been a recurring concern for the 25-year-old.

Ja Morant has always been dealing with ankle injuries even in his debut season. Well, this might be a reason why his defensive-offensive game style has been a point of vulnerability for him. Morant’s explosive drives to the rim, combined with his fearless attitude make him one of the most lethal offensive stars. But he often misses significant time due to a variety of injuries.

However, beyond the court, Ja Morant’s social media activities have put him under fire several times. He even faced multiple suspensions due to this in the summer of 2023. Although the Grizzlies tried to subdue the seriousness of the matter, nothing left the eyes of the fans. And well, as you can imagine, things took a big blow to Ja Morant’s public image.

While those incidents are in the past, things have certainly changed—hopefully for the better. As the regular season kicks off, the first game against the Utah Jazz is on the horizon. There’s uncertainty about whether Ja Morant will play due to an ankle injury, but he is expected to suit up and lead the team. Fans are hopeful that Barack Obama will get another chance to hold his breath as Morant soars high for one of his signature slam dunks.