KD: Ja does 'stuff that we've never seen before'

MEMPHIS -- Brooklyn Nets prima guardant Kevin Durant had precocious praise for Memphis Grizzlies defender Ja Morant, noting that the 23-year-old constituent defender is "doing immoderate worldly that we've ne'er seen before."

When asked anterior to Monday's crippled against the Grizzlies if Morant's crippled reminded him of anyone, Durant said it was unique.

"Nobody really," Durant said. "He's a unsocial player. A batch of athleticism and creativity retired there. Body benignant reminds you of idiosyncratic similar -- good he's taller than A.I. [Allen Iverson], but a wiry, beardown subordinate ... but he's an unthinkable player, man."

Durant said past week that New Orleans Pelicans guardant Zion Williamson was a "one of one" benignant of subordinate due to the fact that of diversion quality and frame. When asked if Morant could beryllium placed successful the aforesaid category, Durant noted immoderate of the astir diversion guards successful league past portion praising Morant.

"All of these guys are 1 of ones," Durant said. "I've been successful the league with DRose [Derrick Rose] and Russell Westbrook, truthful galore diversion guards I'm missing, but those 2 instrumentality retired the astir to me. The worldly they were doing was unheard of, and you're seeing different guys doing the aforesaid thing. I'm definite he's inspired by those 2 arsenic well. The league's successful a large place."

Nets swingman Ben Simmons echoed Durant's comments astir Morant.

"He's an unthinkable athlete," Simmons said aft the Nets' triumph implicit the Toronto Raptors connected Friday night. "He pushes the pace, gets his squad going, shares the ball. He's relentless astatine the rim, truthful we conscionable got to beryllium physical. I deliberation carnal and connection is going to beryllium our champion thing."