Ja Morant keeps his jersey for his model, Derrick Rose

For his only visit to Madison Square Garden this season, Ja Morant decided to give his jersey to Derrick Rose after the game. A gift in the form of a tribute since the 2011 MVP has strongly influenced the star of Memphis.

Except that, as the Grizzly was very good in this game, with a triple-double (27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds), his father came forward to get his son’s jersey, thus depriving Derrick Rose of this present.

“It was a little weird,” the All-Star smiled for ESPN. “I was planning on giving it to D-Rose. At first, I even told my dad I had already left it for him.”

“He really made people believe in players like me.”

Not to disappoint anyone, Ja Morant found a solution: since he had changed jerseys during the game, he left one to his Knicks counterpart and gave the other to his father. Everyone was happy, especially the player who shone in the most famous venue in the league.

“To get a triple-double at the Garden is crazy,” he confirms. “I grew up watching games in that room, seeing the Knicks. Everybody loves the Garden. Everyone watches what happens there.”

And then it’s against Derrick Rose, one of his role models, and he feels the former MVP has inspired an entire generation.

“He really made people believe in players like me,” Ja Morant says. “I feel like he was the one who made athletic backs famous. With his acrobatic finishes, his touch near the circle and his explosiveness. Coming in, he was my benchmark and it’s crazy to be on the court with him.”

As for Taylor Jenkins, he obviously salutes his point guard, author of his fifth career triple-double. “You have to give him credit: a triple-double, 14 assists. I’m very proud. He was in attack mode from the beginning. The Knicks tried several defenses against him, but he found the solutions, especially late in the game. He was magnificent.”

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