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A16 sports
Thursday 17 February 2022
All-Star debut moment? Look to Morant, Ball for highlights

By STEVE REED does with the best players cited to watch him play
The NBA All-Star Game in the league. in this type of game," Hor-
seems to be tailor-made for "It's going to be fun." nets coach James Borrego
Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball. Joining Ball and Memphis' said of Ball, last year's NBA
The flashy point guards Morant as first-time All- rookie of the year. "It's a
are sitting atop the leader- Stars are Golden State's free-flowing, highlight reel,
board when looking to see Andrew Wiggins, Toronto's play-making game that
which of the seven first-time Fred VanVleet, San Anto- he's fit for. So he's going to
All-Stars will deliver a mem- nio's Dejounte Murray and bring a lot of excitement to
orable moment during the Cleveland's Darius Garland the game and to his team-
league's annual showcase and Jarrett Allen — who will mates. This is right up his al-
on Sunday. be playing in front of their ley."
"Melo's game is perfect home fans. Ball is the fourth-youngest
for an All-Star Game," said Grizzlies head coach Taylor NBA All-Star behind Kobe
Miles Bridges, who has Jenkins believes Morant will Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) guards Charlotte Hor- Bryant, LeBron James and
nets guard LaMelo Ball (2) during the first half of an NBA basket-
been on the receiving end put on a show. ball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. Magic Johnson, and his
of numerous highlight reel, "If you're going to talk Associated Press swagger adds some spice
no-look passes from his about the most entertain- to a game that will be miss-
Charlotte Hornets team- ing players in the NBA and that, and I think Ja will fit in slice through traffic to the ing perennial All-Stars like
mate the past two seasons. those at the top of the list, I perfectly." rim, make defenders loose Kevin Durant, James Hard-
"He does All-Star Game think Ja has to be up there Morant and Ball are rou- their footing with a step- en and Draymond Green
type moves in (regular with a small group," Jenkins tinely at the center of jaw- back 3-pointer or cross- due to injuries.
season) games, so I can't said. "There is a lot of enter- dropping plays with their over dribble, and setting up For Ball, and others, playing
imagine what he's going tainment in this league and ability to create shots for teammates for dunks with in the All-Star game is the
to bring out for All-Stars. obviously the All-Star game themselves and others. their impressive court vision. realization of a childhood
I'm excited to see what he is the ultimate highlight for Fans enjoy watching them "As fan, I would be ex- dream.
"I liked the jerseys and my
parents would always have
the game on and maybe
make some cookies," Ball
recently told ESPN. "But I
remember going out and
putting the rim down and
getting dunks going…I
knew I would fit in though.
My whole life I thought I
could be an All-Star, I saw
the game and thought I
could play in that."
Morant, the NBA rookie
of the year in 2020, may
get more opportunities to
showcase his skills after be-
ing named a starter in his
third pro season.
Jenkins expects Morant will
have a "significant imprint"
on the game.
"He's one of those great
playmakers that can do
it himself — get to the rim,
play in the paint, knock
down the 3-point shot and
get out in transition. And
you then you see the level
of creativity he has with the
lobs to his teammates, kick-
outs for 3s. ... From an enter-
tainment factor he is going
to be one of the ultimate
keys to the All-Star game's
success on Sunday."
Morant was able to be with
his family when he was se-
lected to his first All-Star
Game. "Getting the All-Star
starting nod and being with
(family) when my name
was called, obviously was
something I wanted to do,
and I was able to do that,"
Morant said.q