13-year NBA veteran makes strong statement from Ja Morant

Quentin Richardson may not be one of the most recognizable names to modern NBA fans, but in the early 2000s he was one of the league's most underrated and beloved players. The Clippers team, on which he played alongside Lamar Odom and Darius Miles, was one of the league's most popular underground teams at the time. He sees the same popularity with the Grizzlies.

During an episode of the Pat Bev Pod, Quentin Richardson revealed that he believes the Memphis Grizzlies embody the NBA culture and pulse of the league. Especially if Ja Morant returns to form next season.

“The team I would look at right now is young and really resembles the culture at the pulse of the league, Memphis,” Richardson said. “With what they did, I mean they had, as you say, a gap year. You know how it is, it's about what you've done for me lately and people have kind of forgotten who and what Ja is in this league. I’m looking forward to this season, to his reappearance.”

The key to the Memphis Grizzlies becoming this culturally relevant team is Ja Morant. Whatever Ja Morant dances on the field, it's the dance that young fans do at home. Although people don't want to admit it, Morant is arguably the most popular young American basketball player in the league next to Anthony Edwards.

“I think if he shows up again, the Memphis team can go back to the way it was before,” Richardson said. “Everyone was doing the griddy and dancing around and loving what they were doing there. And then they lost and everyone had a few injuries, they had a little bump in the road.”

While everyone often talks about the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, the Memphis Grizzlies are definitely a team that people need to pay attention to this season.

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