Ja Morant has the chance to do the funniest thing ever to the NBA

This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Good morning, Winners! Happy Wednesday! You’re halfway through the week. I hope it’s going well for you so far.

Ja Morant made his triumphant return on Tuesday against the Pelicans, dropping a spectacular 34-point gem in his first game back from a 25-game suspension — the highlight of which was his game-winner at the end.

As soon as that shot hit the bottom of the net, the thought immediately crossed my mind — JA MORANT FOR MVP!?!?!?

Listen, man. It won’t happen — partially because it can’t. According to the NBA’s new rules that require players to play at least 65 games to be eligible for awards, Morant is automatically ruled out after his 25-game suspension.

But what if, right?

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Morant kept this up? It’s just one game, but Morant’s performance on Tuesday was absolutely MVP-esque. He scored 27 points in the 2nd half and came up with 13 in the fourth quarter including his game-winner.

The Grizzlies are currently 7-19 after the win Morant single-handedly pulled out for his team. Let’s say Morant gets them to a 45-win spot and he keeps playing like that. Just imagine it, man.

Can’t you just see Stephen A. Smith on First Take hooting and hollering? “Ja Morant is unequivocally the MVP this year by the book definition,” my imaginary Stephen A. is saying. “It’s downright blasphemous that we’d let a silly rule take that away. What a travesty!”

Please, man. I really, really want this to happen. Ja Morant, keep this up. We need the chaos.

If you can’t beat ’em, pick ’em

The growing popularity of “pick ’em” style gaming has the sports betting world in a bit of a tizzy.

The popular fantasy games (that are nearly indistinguishable from parlay betting at this point!) don’t require a company to have a sports betting license to offer. Companies like Prize Picks and Underdog Sports have thrived off of them.

DraftKings hates that. The company has pushed back on it hard. But now, it seems, the fight may be over. That’s because DraftKings is offering pick ’em style fantasy games now, too, our Prince Grimes writes.

You know what they say, folks. If you can’t beat them, join them.

“DraftKings launched Pick6 earlier this month, a direct competitor to the very pick’em games it was accused of fighting against. After an initial offering in six states on Dec. 6, the game was expanded into Washington, D.C., last Thursday, with more states expected to follow. If DraftKings’ alleged involvement in attempting to block companies offering similar games is true, this looks like either a classic case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” or an attempt to beat them at their own game.”

This blatant display of hypocrisy shows us what DraftKings’ motives have been the entire time. It seems the company was simply trying to eliminate a potential competitor. Unfortunately, as Prince points out, it never made a compelling argument to support its case.

Down goes UCLA

Whew, boy. Something funky is going on with UCLA. Mick Cronin’s team looks like it stinks.

Before Tuesday, UCLA hadn’t lost a home game since January 2022 when it lost to a tough Oregon team. Since then, the team built up a home-winning streak of 29 games.

Today, that streak is snapped…by Cal State Northridge. A team that hadn’t won a Pac-12 game since December 21, 2012. Folks, that was 11 years ago. Wasn’t the world supposed to end on that day or something?

Look, man. There’s no shame in losing. The streak was going to end eventually. But, man. To a non-Power Five school? Like this? That’s bad. Really bad. Mick Cronin’s team has more losses than wins right now against non-Power Five schools.

#UCLA MBB's 29-game winning streak at Pauley Pavilion has been ended by… Cal State Northridge.

Bruins lose 76-72, have lost 3 straight, and have more losses against non-Power Five schools (1) than wins against Power Five schools (0).

Disastrous start to the 2023-24 season. pic.twitter.com/EFcQFhixQH

— Gavin Carlson (@GavinCarlsonDB) December 20, 2023

The season is still young. But, uh, UCLA looks cooked.

Quick hits: The NFL is ruining the NFL…We told you about Aaron Rodgers…and more

— The NFL is expanding its Monday Night Football programming and that’s not a good thing. Robert Zeglinski has more.

— We told you Aaron Rodgers couldn’t be trusted. Now Blake Schuster is telling you again. Don’t trust him.

— Shaq thinks Steph Curry deserves to be in the GOAT conversations more often. Charles Curtis has more.

— Christian D’Andrea has you covered on coaches who could (and should, really) be fired at the end of the year. Looking at you, Ron Rivera.

— Matthew Stafford’s daughter is really looking out for her dad. You love to see it. Meghan Hall has more.

— LeBron James to the Knicks! Book it! Here’s Blake Schuster with more.

That’s all, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. Have a fantastic Wednesday. Let’s chat again tomorrow. We out. Peace.

-Sykes