Ja Morant Says Vicious Dunk vs. Pacers Is Best of His Career

The high-flying Grizzlies star called the slam the best of his career to this point.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant never fails to amaze with his high-flying play and jaw-dropping dunks. But on Saturday night, the 23-year-old uncorked a slam that even he said was the best of his career. 

With just over four minutes left in the third quarter of a road game against the Pacers, Morant easily carved his way past a pair of defenders, clearing himself a runway to the rim. At the last moment, Indiana center Jalen Smith slid over to help, but instead offered himself up to be posterized. 

Morant and Smith both jumped, with the former cradling the ball with his right hand before unleashing a vicious, one-handed dunk over the Pacers center. The slam sent the Grizzlies bench into a frenzy, and Morant stared over at his teammates before jogging back down the court.

EVERY ANGLE OF JA MORANT'S UNBELIEVABLE DUNK OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE 😱📽️ pic.twitter.com/8u1j6ZNH3F

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2023

The thunderous dunk extended the Grizzles’ lead to 20 points and was the exclamation point of Morant’s 23-point, 10-assist performance in the 130–112 win. The Memphis point guard also admitted after the game that he couldn’t think of a better dunk in his basketball career

“Yeah, easy,” Morant said when asked if the dunk was his best. “It’s what everybody has been waiting for. I finally made it.”

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Morant’s dunk caught the attention of the NBA world Saturday as a number of current and former players took to social media to react to the guard’s latest highlight play.

https://t.co/We6D7Md4Rc pic.twitter.com/qq5uWGskFW

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 15, 2023

When we look back on Ja’s in game dunk highlights when it’s all said and done it’s gonna be up there with the some of the greatest ever 🚀

— Kevin Garnett (@KevinGarnett5KG) January 15, 2023

Bruh just do the mf dunk contest 😂😂 @JaMorant https://t.co/4aNrft733K

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 15, 2023

And y’all had the nerve to get mad at me for saying he should be a starter in the All-Star game?!! The fans want to see HIGHLIGHTS… and that’s exactly what Ja Morant is going to give you. The MOST ELECTRIFYING PLAYER in the NBA!!! Carry the hell on… https://t.co/kIczmu8OGu

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 15, 2023

Morant also had a bit of fun on Twitter at the expense of Smith, writing “jump with me if you want to go viral” alongside video of the ferocious dunk.

jump with me if you want to go viral 😮‍💨 https://t.co/3ESSiC3A1w

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 15, 2023