Just a few short seasons ago, Ja Morant was an All-Star who was ranked as one of the top 10 players in the league, but after getting hit with copious injuries, Morant’s status has dipped, a fate that Jaden Ivey wants to avoid. 

Ivey has often been compared to Morant, mostly because of their blazing speed and elite athleticism, but that kind of play takes its toll. 

Since playing 67 games in his rookie season, Morant has failed to reach the 65-game threshold and only played 50 games last season after playing just nine the season before. 

It’s put the Grizzlies in a tough spot, as Morant is one of the players they have built around, but they’ve spent the last two seasons figuring out ways to win without him. 

After putting up similar numbers to Morant’s first two seasons, Jaden Ivey was hit with the injury bug in his third season and dropped to just 30 games.  

Morant’s career has been somewhat derailed by injuries, and even his All-NBA, Most Improved Player season wouldn’t have been eligible under the current rules, which require a player to appear in at least 65 games. 

Ivey suffered a freak injury, so it’s nothing chronic yet, but there is reason for concern that his career could end up like Morant’s or another former Pistons player. 

Jaden Ivey doesn’t want to be the next Ja Morant or Derrick Rose 

If you talk about players whose careers were ruined by injuries, Derrick Rose immediately springs to mind, as he was the league’s youngest ever MVP before knee injuries affected his athleticism and kept him out for whole seasons. 

You could say the same of Morant, who was once an MVP candidate but has since had a hard time staying on the floor. 

While his game isn’t exactly the same as either of these players Ivey is also a guy whose success is largely predicated on his athleticism and blazing speed. 

And he does have one more important thing in common with these two: Ivey is constantly hitting the floor. 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player get knocked down or fall down as much as Jaden Ivey, which is a style of play not generally conducive to a long career. 

Ivey has to find ways to avoid some of this contact to keep himself healthy, as small guards who routinely take beatings are not usually long for the league. 

It would be great if Ivey hit the heights of Morant or Rose, but he doesn’t want to join them in the ranks of the constantly injured, so needs to do everything possible to prepare for this season physically and to adjust his game to stay on the floor.Â