Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in action during an NBA game in London (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Ja Morant returned to the NBA court in style in London on Sunday, and the Memphis Grizzlies guard believes any player would embrace the joys of playing in a European atmosphere.
Morant had a double-double by the end of the first half at the O2 Arena to help the Grizzlies take an unassailable lead over the Orlando Magic, finishing with 24 points and 13 assists.
The two-time All-Star had the full NBA Europe experience, sitting courtside in street clothes in Berlin – drinking in the atmosphere – and then complementing the Magic’s defense with his unique brand of polish and style in London.
Morant praised the fans for helping to make both games special.
“It was great. Definitely a great experience. They were very energetic,” Morant said. “I was sitting in Berlin and I saw the energy in the arena and I just dissected it.
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Orlando Magic star Anthony Black dunked on four Memphis Grizzlies defenders in NBA Germany
“Then I came to London, I had the opportunity to play. When we got going as a team and I got going, the crowd got into it a bit more, which is what we feed off as a team.
“I just told the team it’s great to experience, you know, we’re here and we’re still getting love. I feel like that’s a big thing that we saw in Berlin and here. I definitely feel like it’s great for basketball.”
The globalization of basketball continues, in accordance with the vision of the late former commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, who predicted that it would be so three or four decades ago.
The next big step comes with the European expansion league, and the NBA is working on its development together with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
NBA commissioner Adam Silver talks to the big powers of European football ahead of the NBA’s European expansion
Current NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to use the power of European soccer fans as a means to continue growing the game in new territories.
“We are talking to many different football clubs, some running basketball teams and some not,” he told reporters in Berlin.
“There’s a lot of room for someone to be a fan of both their favorite football club and their favorite basketball club, so that’s where my focus is.”
While that’s understandably the focus and largely the key to achieving exponential growth for the sport, Orlando Magic star Mo Wagner — who perfectly timed his return from a year out with an ACL injury by getting fit and able to play in Berlin — wants to make sure basketball’s growth stands out in its own right.
“The comparison to football sometimes takes the joy out of it,” he said. “I look at the recent events in Germany and I am very grateful to be a part of it.
“I think it’s amazing that the sport is growing so fast.”
The proof in the pudding is that Europeans have greatly expanded the list of the world’s best basketball players.
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“It shows the game is growing,” said Cedric Coward, who started both games for the Grizzlies. “The game is growing in places other than America.”
“Our best, probably, three players in the league right now are international players. That means our game is definitely growing in other countries. That’s great to hear and great to know. It also gives us a little bit more competition, which is great.”
The journey does not come without challenges for the players, who must quickly adjust to time zones and get used to familiar routines in a completely unfamiliar environment.
There’s also a far more extensive list of media duties than usual, which the NBA has choreographed beautifully to provide unparalleled journalistic access to reporters who don’t often get close to the players.
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Earlier this season, the Brooklyn Nets thought they had won in OT before Paolo Banchero’s stunning 3-pointer sealed the victory for the Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero, who admits he would like to see an NBA game in Rome or Milan because of his Italian heritage, says he is grateful for what has been a completely new experience in his professional career.
“I think it’s a unique challenge,” said the former NBA Rookie of the Year. “With traveling to two different countries, (a) good challenge.
“When we first arrived in Europe, we had to adjust to the weather at first, but now that we’ve been here for a few days, (I think) everyone has adjusted.”
“You try to treat it like a normal game like you would go through your morning routine. I always take a nap before the game so I just try to take it in and then go out and just have fun when the game starts.
“There’s a lot of media at practice and things like that, a lot of long bus rides, but at the end of the day I think it was an honor for our team to be here, for the NBA to put us on this stage.
Morant may have stolen star billing from Buncher in London, but he agrees with the Magic superstar that trips like these will only continue a positive trend in basketball.
Morant stands and watches the action from the court at an NBA game in Berlin (TimGroothuis/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
He also believes other teams in the league would welcome the chance to make a similar trip to Europe.
“I think all the players should actually want to come and have the opportunity to play here and actually experience everything that we and the Magic had this past week,” he added.
“I feel like it’s been great, and if it keeps going, I feel like both parties will like it.”
NBA stars remember Martin Luther King on MLK Day
Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies players also took time to remember Martin Luther King ahead of MLK Day, which you can watch live Ski Sports.
Coverage begins with the Milwaukee Bucks traveling to face the Atlanta Hawks on Sky Sports Mix at 5 p.m., followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sky Sports+ at 7 p.m.
Later in the evening, the Dallas Mavericks head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks at 10pm and Eastern Conference powerhouses the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons at 1am – both of those games are simulcast on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event.
Cedric Coward (right) guards Desmond Bain at an NBA game in Berlin (TimGroothuis/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
The loaded NBA roster comes on a day of remembrance for one of the pioneers of the American civil rights movement.
Today, his memory is still evocative for stars across the league.
“Especially for people of color and people like me, I think it’s just being able to share my beliefs and continue to believe in what he believed in,” added Cedric Coward. “He had a dream, so he could have continued to do that, if only he could have spread his word and spread his culture.”
Although the holiday has been celebrated for 40 years, Desmond Bain is adamant that the United States must still push forward with the message and beliefs that Dr. King expressed more than half a century ago.
“I think it’s pushed our country forward, so far, and we still have a long way to go,” said the shooting guard, who was traded from the Grizzlies to the Magic last year.
“He’s someone I’ve always looked up to, and I know a lot of kids who look like me have looked up to me, that’s someone I want to continue to celebrate and I hope you know we’ll continue to do that for years to come.”
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