Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 assists on Wednesday night in a 127-106 win over the New York Knicks.
The second overall pick became just the ninth player in NBA history to record multiple games as a rookie with at least 10 assists and no turnovers, joining the likes of Gary Payton and Mark Jackson among others, according to Adam Fromal of NBA Math.
Morant also continued to separate himself from the rookie class.
According to Stat Muse, there have been 10 games this season by a rookie with at least 10 assists, Morant has nine of them (Darius Garland has the other one). He also improved his assist average to 7.2 per game in the process, which ranks 12th in the NBA and first among all rookies.
Ja Morant is only the ninth player in NBA history to post multiple games with double-digit assists and no turnovers as a rookie.
The other eight? Norm Nixon (3), Gary Payton (3), Pooh Richardson (3), Steve Francis, Mark Jackson, Brandon Knight, Brevin Knight, Nate McMillan. pic.twitter.com/pAwRBHK7r5
— Adam Fromal (@fromal09) January 30, 2020
Morant has struggled some with turnovers this season as he is 15th in the NBA with 3.2 per game. Given his rate of turnovers, his assist-to-ratio is just 2.24 this season. As a rookie, though, mistakes are a given and his high turnover rate shouldn’t take away from his spectacular night on Wednesday.
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