NBA: Top Rookies Ja Morant, RJ Barrett Playing Minutes Addressed

NBA top rookies Ja Morant and RJ Barrett’s playing minutes have been addressed by coaches and experts.

Morant and Barrett appear to be two of the most notable rookies early this season. Aside from displaying superb talent in their hot start, both rookies also generated some controversies pertaining to their minutes inside the court.

So far, Morant has played for over 30 minutes just once this season. And that came in an Oct. 27 overtime victory against Brooklyn Nets – arguably the best game Morant played in his first five games.

During Grizzlies’ 114-105 loss to Phoenix on Saturday night, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins took Morant out for three minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter. After the game, Jenkins’ decision was questioned as Morant had played only 24 minutes in a highly competitive game.

According to Jenkins, the limited minutes are part of an effort by the Grizzlies' staff to keep a young team fresh over the course of a long season that is still in its infancy. And this includes sitting a productive rookie like Morant, The Commercial Appeal reported.

"I’ve always been a big believer, you start playing in the mid-30s (minutes per game) you kind of wear down," Jenkins said.

"Our rookies, including him, have never played 82 games in a season," Jenkins added.

As for the New York Knicks, limiting minutes is not something the team considers as an advantage in a long and tiring season. A few days ago, Knicks coach David Fizdale reacted angrily after Sunday’s 113-92 loss to the Kings when asked why he put prized rookie Barrett back into the game in garbage time with just six minutes left.

Barrett played upward of 40 minutes in a game that was already way out of hand in the fourth quarter, something Knicks fans and pundits saw as dangerous and non-productive. But according to Fizdale, limiting minutes and issues around it should stop as it has completely nothing to do with the development of a player.

“We got to get off this load-management crap. Latrell Sprewell averaged 42 minutes for a season. This kid (Barrett) is 19. Drop it already,’’ Fizdale exclaimed.

Just recently, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy chipped in on the issue and suggested that a developing player doesn’t get better by resting and not practicing.

“That’s what it is, the wussification of the league,” Van Gundy told Frank Isola of The Athletic.

“And it’s hurting the product. Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe by playing Barrett a lot of minutes David Fizdale is advancing Barrett’s career forward? Is there anyone who really believes that the way you get better is by not playing and by not practicing?’ It’s crazy to me,” Van Gundy continued.