Should Ja Morant stop dunking?

[PeroAntic]

Im worried it will wear out his body too soon and he will live the same fate as DRose or Blake Griffin. Westbrook reckless mentality has been proven dumb, instead of trying IMO he should preserve his energy for defense and focus more on midrange shooting.

[Full Court]

His biggest strength is driving to the basket, so no, I don't think he should stop. He's got risk of injury just like every other player on the court does.

[Real Men Wear Green]

What messed Rose and Griffin up is injuries but being explosive athletes is also what made them great. You can't stop doing what makes you great. Westbrook for all of his failures is proof that Morant has hope for longevity because he still has a lot of athleticism though no longer enough to dominate. Westbrook is proof that Morant had better have a strong all-around game for when he gets older but does not in any way prove that there is something wrong with dunking while you can. For Morant it will come down to whether he is durable like Westbrook or will lose his ability like Rose Griffin etc... and when he does lose the athleticism does he have skills like Chris Paul or Steph Curry so that he can stay great.

[Axe]

No, he shouldn't so he could test his limits.

[Pitbull]

Its entertaining, so no.

[imdaman99]

Lol at preserve his energy for defense. The guy will never be a good defender deal with it.

[Full Court]

Also, he needs to keep dunking so he can win that MVP.


:lol

[ShawkFactory]

His biggest strength is driving to the basket, so no, I don't think he should stop. He's got risk of injury just like every other player on the court does.

So you don't think that guys being this athletic and flying around recklessly can take a toll on their bodies? Even Wade had problems.

You can't just be in the lane and in the air all the time. Even Jordan learned that.

[L.Kizzle]

He might as well just retire with that kind of talk.

[ShawkFactory]

He might as well just retire with that kind of talk.

The actual sentiment isn't that he actually stop dunking when the opportunity presents. You've missed the point.

He needs to adapt. As all smart and great players do.

[L.Kizzle]

The actual sentiment isn't that he actually stop dunking when the opportunity presents. You've missed the point.

He needs to adapt. As all smart and great players do.
I get the point but no, he should not stop dunking.

[ShawkFactory]

I get the point but no, he should not stop dunking.

Still doesn't seem like you get the point.

[L.Kizzle]

Still doesn't seem like you get the point.
I get the point, but I vote no. Keep dunking.

[ShawkFactory]

I get the point, but I vote no. Keep dunking.

Okay. But do you think he shouldn't maybe tamp down the constant attacking and flying into the lane? Maybe get a stronger floater or mid range or 3pt shot?

[L.Kizzle]

Okay. But do you think he shouldn't maybe tamp down the constant attacking and flying into the lane? Maybe get a stronger floater or mid range or 3pt shot?
It's what makes him, him.
Unless they outlaw the moves he makes like they did Kareem in college keep doing you. He will eventually develop other moves. He's in what, his 4th season.

[FultzNationRISE]

Okay. But do you think he shouldn't maybe tamp down the constant attacking and flying into the lane? Maybe get a stronger floater or mid range or 3pt shot?

Well if hes able to improve these things he should probably be doing that regardless of injury concerns. But if playing differently reduces his impact then I dont think he can justify changing. No point avoiding injury to be just another guy out there. He became a star playing the way he plays now. So it all depends on whether he could be just as effective playing more below the rim.

But keep in mind theres a bit of confirmation bias when guys like Rose and Griffin get hurt. Guys like Kawhi and Chris Paul have also missed plenty of time to injury in their careers.

[ShawkFactory]

It's what makes him, him.
Unless they outlaw the moves he makes like they did Kareem in college keep doing you. He will eventually develop other moves. He's in what, his 4th season.

It is indeed. It'll also be what makes him that young talent we used to talk about because he couldn't stay healthy

[ShawkFactory]

Well if hes able to improve these things he should probably be doing that regardless of injury concerns. But if playing differently reduces his impact then I dont think he can justify changing. No point avoiding injury to be just another guy out there. He became a star playing the way he plays now. So it all depends on whether he could be just as effective playing more below the rim.

But keep in mind theres a bit of confirmation bias when guys like Rose and Griffin get hurt. Guys like Kawhi and Chris Paul have also missed plenty of time to injury in their careers.

Would those things make him less effective though? It certainly wouldn't happen overnight and maybe he just doesn't have the ability to do it but there is a absolutely a precedent of guys, particularly guards, playing inside out having short careers.

Even the high-flyers we typically think of like Jordan and Vince Carter didn't play that way. We all know about Jordan's jumper and VC was a 40% 3 point shooter in year two. He always played outside-in but took his spots empathically when they presented.

Wade is a perfect example. Beast athlete with GOAT level body control but even he played in a way that couldn't stand the test of time doing what he did. If it wasn't for playing with Bron and not having to attack all the time I'm not sure he makes it past 2013.

[FultzNationRISE]

Would those things make him less effective though? It certainly wouldn't happen overnight and maybe he just doesn't have the ability to do it but there is a absolutely a precedent of guys, particularly guards, playing inside out having short careers.

Even the high-flyers we typically think of like Jordan and Vince Carter didn't play that way. We all know about Jordan's jumper and VC was a 40% 3 point shooter in year two. He always played outside-in but took his spots empathically when they presented.

Wade is a perfect example. Beast athlete with GOAT level body control but even he played in a way that couldn't stand the test of time doing what he did. If it wasn't for playing with Bron and not having to attack all the time I'm not sure he makes it past 2013.

Well Wade put on a bunch of weight tho, due to his… ahem, “south beach workout regimen” (which Lebron emphatically condemned and abstained from). Morant is naturally very slim and probably has less to worry about in terms of torque injury. Obviously freak incidents can occur, but I dont know theres a correlation between not attacking hard and getting injured less. You can still Shaun Livingston your knee, Paul George your ankle, or Kevin Love your shoulder on any given play. KD tore his achilles doing literally nothing.

So Im not sure he should forcibly change for the sake of safeguarding against injury. But again, he still oughtta work on the rest of his game just for the sheer benefit of being a better player. And maybe a useful biproduct will end up being injury prevention.

[kawhileonard2]

Im worried it will wear out his body too soon and he will live the same fate as DRose or Blake Griffin. Westbrook reckless mentality has been proven dumb, instead of trying IMO he should preserve his energy for defense and focus more on midrange shooting.

No why would he?

[PeroAntic]

No why would he?

It puts a strain on the legs and increases injury risk. Diversifying his game would increase his longevity, we saw already a preview of things to come last season when he went down in the playoffs due to his reckless playing style.

[Axe]

It puts a strain on the legs and increases injury risk. Diversifying his game would increase his longevity, we saw already a preview of things to come last season when he went down in the playoffs due to his reckless playing style.
This is true especially for someone who's small like him. If he was lebron's or giannis's size then it would be fine more or less.