When it comes to the fact that his shooting numbers around the rim are down this season, Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant pointed a finger at referees for swallowing the whistle.
"I'm getting no foul calls," Morant said to Memphis media members, via the Commercial Appeal. "Y'all had a whole spiel about running in there careless and getting hurt. So what's now? That's what y'all want me to go back doing? Let's end that convo right there."
Morant is attempting just 5.9 free throws per game this season, which is his lowest total since his sophomore season, so perhaps there's some merit in his claim. However, he's also shooting a career-low 35 percent from the field and an anemic 14 percent from long range.
Overall, Morant seems to be settling for shots more than he has in the past, when he would attack the rim with reckless abandon. This season, Morant’s average shot distance is 13.8 feet, which is the longest of his career.
In fact, Morant’s average shot distance has increased every season since 2021-22, which likely has a direct correlation to the slumping shooting percentage.
Despite his slow start from the field, though, Morant isn’t worried. He’s confident in the work that he puts in behind closed doors.
"Them my shots," he said. "I'm not shooting nothing the defense wants me to take at all. That's why I don't get too frustrated because I be in this arena, I be in the practice gym doing the same thing. Right now it's just continuing to shoot, continuing to shoot with confidence and wait for it to translate over."
Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo doesn’t seem especially concerned at Morant's shooting struggles, either.
"The shot hasn't been falling for him in some of these games. That's something that we can live with," Iisalo said. "It's going to come around. He's just got to stay aggressive. The other guys need to keep doing their job and Ja needs to keep doing his job."
It’s still early in the season, so Morant will have ample opportunity to boost his shooting percentages, but in order to do so, he might need to make more of a concerted effort to get to the rim instead of settling for outside opportunities.