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Ja Morant Sends Message to LA Clippers Player

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shared his thoughts on this Clippers player

Joey Linn

Nov 18, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the second half against the LA Clippers at FedExForum.
Nov 18, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts during the second half against the LA Clippers at FedExForum. / Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will not turn 25 years old until later this month, but he is already a five-year NBA veteran. In a group of young players that looks ready to overtake the NBA, Morant is also someone that players even younger than him look up to.

LA Clippers guard Bones Hyland went viral on Friday for his 53-point performance at the Ball Don't Stop Pro-Am in Canada. Just 23 years old, Hyland has yet to establish himself as a consistent rotation player in the NBA, but has shown flashes of his upside.

In a post on X, Morant sent a message to Hyland, writing, "real hoop game."

Traded to the Clippers from the Denver Nuggets at the 2023 NBA trade deadline, Hyland has been stuck behind Hall of Fame point guards each of the last two seasons. Russell Westbrook also joined the Clippers shortly after the 2023 trade deadline, and the team added James Harden at the start of last season, which pushed Hyland out of the rotation entirely.

In four NBA seasons, Hyland has averaged 10.0 PPG in 18.1 minutes per game. Putting on a show in one of LA's final games of the 2023-24 season, Hyland finished with 37 points, nine assists, and four rebounds in a close loss.

It remains to be seen if Hyland will be with the Clippers next season, as the team has a guard-heavy roster that may not give him a clear path to minutes.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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