SENSING AN ACROBATIC opportunity, Ja Morant skips with excitement and raises his left hand. He's already calling for a lob as he approaches the 3-point line on the left wing, with Memphis Grizzlies backcourt mate Desmond Bane crossing half court in transition.
Bane picks up his dribble, takes two long strides down the middle of the floor and lofts a pass high over Los Angeles Lakers forward Stanley Johnson in the paint. As Morant launches, every player on the Memphis bench erupts from their seats as the 22-year-old superstar soars to catch the pass, flicks the ball through the hoop and ducks his head to avoid hitting it on the rim.