If the NBA award voters cave to public pressure, the pressure applied by utter casuals who don’t even watch games, to make Zion Williamson the ROTY of the Year, I’m going to be upset. Not really upset enough to do anything besides make snarky comments on the internet (coincidentally, the same thing I am doing right now), because presumably in this scenario Williamson would’ve been a total beast for the entire rest of the season post All-Star break, but still upset.
Ja Morant’s being doing this whole year. Basically from game one. He came right into the NBA and started dropping dimes and getting buckets and dazzling people with his flashy play. Williamson is fun, but he’s a way different kind of fun that maybe isn’t quite as satisfying. He dominates people with his physical attributes. Morant dominates people with supreme skill. Williamson is an untouchable athletic specimen. What Morant does feels attainable for the average person (even if it isn’t, at all).
Basically, I’m comparing Morant to Stephen Curry right now. They’re very different players, but also kind of the same. Call the cops if you want to, it’s too late. They can’t have me un-make the comparison. Even if they arrest me and put me in jail under charges of heresy.
Also, I hope Morant credits Patty Mills for his repurposing of Mills’ goggles celebration. Mills’ version was reserved for threes, while Morant’s is meant to imply some sort of extra passing vision that is represented by the goggles, but the similarities are there and cannot be denied.