Ja Morant switched from dunk to layup in midair in a stunning feat of hang-time
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
- Ja Morant pulled off an amazing double-clutch layup.
- Morant rose for a dunk, then switched in mid-air to an impressive hanging layup.
- The move was somewhat similar to past iconic plays from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Jordan.
Ja Morant knows when he is going to be able to throw down a jaw-dropping dunk over a defender — he's done it several times in his career.
Just as importantly, Morant knows when he won't be able to dunk, which he demonstrated impressively on Sunday with a mid-air switch.
During the third quarter of the Memphis Grizzlies' 103-97 win over the Washington Wizards, Morant drove the lane and rose up to dunk over Kristaps Porzingis. Morant quickly realized he didn't have the air and space to finish the dunk, so while still suspended in air, he switched to a hanging layup, knocking Porzingis under the basket in the process.
Slow-motion replays showed just how impressive the adjustment was.
—NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2022
Morant also joins the ranks of players who have pulled off the mid-air switch, one of basketball's most impressive plays.
In 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo pulled off a double-clutch layup in the playoffs that many compared to Michael Jordan.
—Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 23, 2019
And of course, Jordan's double-clutch layup over the Lakers in the Finals is an iconic NBA play.