Up until mid-December, the Memphis Grizzlies were in a pathetic state. They had won only six of their 25 games, good enough for the 12th place in the Western Conference. They were finding it difficult to replicate their success without Ja Morant as they did in the previous seasons. As for fans, they were counting down the days till the former 2nd pick makes a return, and so was he. On December 19, when Morant finally returned, he was on a mission.

He took accountability for his absence and along with it the entire blame for the Grizzlies’ crash in the season. In that first game back, it took some time, but we saw the new era of Grizzlies basketball flash once again with Morant at its core. He put on a classic clutch performance to nail the Pelicans and secure a victory for his franchise.

They are yet to lose since he has returned. Moreover, they look like the team that finished second in the Western Conference for the past two seasons. There are still immense repairs to be done as they sit at 10-19. However, Morant’s presence makes it seem like a courageous comeback can be envisioned.

He is the leader of the forces after all. But just how good is he in comparison to a player earning MVP chants on a daily – Luka Doncic?

Luka Doncic is having a historic season and is taking the Mavericks with him

While the Grizzlies were predestined for failure without Morant, Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks had a lot more to prove coming into this season. Last time around, the arrival of Kyrie Irving shunned them from the gates of the postseason. Despite the crushing downfall, the Mavericks trusted in their tandem awarding Irving with an extension.

The hopes rested in the hands of this offensively overpowered tandem to resurrect the franchise once again. KAI started off slow, and to cover up for his average start, Doncic launched into MVP realms. The 24-year-old is averaging a career-best 33.5 points and 9.4 assists every single game.

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Then with Irving’s ankle injury, Luka Magic has had to sparkle during each win. Being shorthanded hasn’t prevented him from keeping the Mavericks within the postseason picture. He is capable of doing everything on the floor and makes the game surreally easy for his teammates. Rookie Derek Lively has been a great find for the Mavs for providing support to Doncic on a nightly basis in the absence of KAI.

But is he a leader yet? All of his playoff heroics, historic stat lines, and stand-alone performances do suggest he is exactly that. Yet a leader is so much more. Luka Doncic undoubtedly is the star to follow as far as offense goes. He is an elite scorer and a playmaking savant combined in one body. At 6’8″ he is bigger than most guards, mismatches he exploits to blast away for big nights like his recent 50-point Christmas gift.

The questions are raised however about his defensive contributions. Against the Suns, Doncic might have jokingly said he deserves All-Defense Second-team distinction, but those types of performances are rare. It’s not that he doesn’t help on defense or avoids being bruised to get stops. But you can’t rely on him to set the energy in motion.

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He is lethal because of his incredible attacking consistency and his skill to hold that form for 48 minutes. If the game does come down to defense, you aren’t going to look at Luka Doncic. That isn’t the case with Morant in my humble opinion.

Ja Morant is a true leader

In the four games since Ja Morant has returned, the Memphis Grizzlies are an elevated and more potent version of themselves. Excuse me, what I meant to say is they are finally a complete side, one that has an anchor in Morant. His sparkling athleticism, defying plays and hustle uplifts every individual on the Grizzlies.

Since his return, they have established their defensive identity once again. In the four-game stretch, they have been the second-best defense in the league with a defense rating of 110.6. Morant himself has a rating of 106, a stat he has improved in for the past three seasons. The offense is generating 10 points more every 100 possessions since Morant’s arrival.

His dedication and effort on each play is probably the most vital change in culture for the Grizzlies. They are back to being a team that fights and competes on every possession. Marcus Smart’s role has come truly alive, JJJ is turning into a defensive tyrant, and Bane the perfect second option behind Morant.

People might hate Morant for his past antics, but you can’t deny his basketball expertise. He is the heart of the Grizzlies, the leader who propels the forces by setting an example on every possession on both ends of the floor. There are a few like him, one name that jumps up is Anthony Edwards. Guys like these are leaders at their finest, willing to do the scrappy work but also take over when the team most needs it.

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If I was to pick a player, Doncic would be considerably clear of Morant. However, and as unpopular as it might be, I think Ja is the more effective leader of the two. Do you agree?