Despite playing only nine NBA games this season and suffering a season-ending injury in early January, Ja Morant has managed to secure an impressive ranking in the NBA’s early All-Star voting results.

As of January 18, Morant finds himself astonishingly placed 8th among Western Conference guards in NBA All-Star voting. Notably, he is ranked higher than standout players like Devin Booker, with Morant amassing 504,676 votes compared to Booker’s 441,238 votes. The young guard was also in close contention with De’Aaron Fox, who had 513,711 votes.

What makes Morant’s ranking even more remarkable is that he surpassed several notable players in the voting, including Jamal Murray, Collin Sexton, Malcolm Brogdon, Russell Westbrook, D’Angelo Russell, and Mike Conley. Despite playing only a limited number of games this season, Morant’s popularity among NBA fans is evident.

While acknowledging Morant’s undeniable talent and excitement factor on the court, it’s noteworthy that he has played significantly fewer games than other contenders. The widespread support for Morant in All-Star voting reflects the genuine admiration and enthusiasm fans have for the rising star.

The unfortunate season-ending injury was a setback for Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, but the positive fan response in All-Star voting hints at an exciting future for the young player. Fans eagerly await Morant’s return to the court and the possibility of seeing him shine in the All-Star game in the upcoming seasons.