The Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies will square off this Wednesday night in what should be an entertaining matchup. Since this game is on the schedule, ESPN’s First Take crew decided to have an interesting debate this morning.
Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams debated who’s more valuable right now: Giannis Antetokounmpo or Ja Morant?
Although this should seem like an easy question, Smith revealed that he’s actually a big believer in Morant.
“Giannis is Giannis, and I get that,” Smith said. “He’s the reigning Finals MVP, reigning champion. He’s a former MVP, Defensive Player of the Year – the guy is phenomenal. I get all of that. Giannis is Giannis, but we don’t know what the hell Ja is going to be.”
Smith went a step further during this conversation and said Morant might be more valuable than Antetokounmpo in the playoffs.
“I can’t sit up there and definitively say I’d rather have Giannis come playoff time at this moment,” Smith added.
Unsurprisingly, NBA fans criticized Smith for this take.
“You can’t definitively say you’d take the reigning Finals MVP over a third year guard who hasn’t made it past the first round,” one fan replied.
Another fan said, “That’s why I can’t watch this show anymore, Ja over Giannis, after he gave the Suns 50 in a close-out game in the Finals?”
Morant is having an excellent season, there’s no doubt about that. It’s way to early to say that he has surpassed Antetokounmpo, though.