Damn it feels good to be a Grizzlies fan right now.
After a hard-fought win against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies became Southwest Division champions for the first time in franchise history — and the number-two seed heading into the playoffs. The victory also added a sixth game to the team’s current winning streak. (Wild how that that seems almost like an afterthought, because that is how good this team has been.)
History Has Its Eyes on Them
This has been a historic season on several levels. Memphis is on track to win a franchise-record number of games. Nearly every night there is a new franchise record being set for something.
Desmond Bane setting a new single-season record for three-pointers made (219) and is on track to set the franchise single-season record in free throw shooting percentage (.900).
Ja Morant is poised to set a new franchise record in scoring average (27.6 points per game).
Tyus Jones leads the league in assists to turnover ratio for the third consecutive season and has taken the helm as starting point guard while Morant has been sidelined due to injury. The Grizzlies are 19-2 in games Jones starts.
Jaren Jackson Jr is about to surpass Pau Gasol for the team record number of blocks in a single season (169), as well as being the current league leader in blocks and blocks per game (2.3). Jackson Jr. is also in the running for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, as well as the NBA Sportsmanship Award. He should also be in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Steven Adams has surpassed Zach Randoph as the franchise leader in offensive rebounds in a single season (340) and currently leads the league in offensive rebounds.
Just to name a few.
Giving the Grizzlies Their Flowers
For once, people around the league are taking notice of the special things happening right now in Memphis. ESPN spent a day in the city with a focus on the team and have declared the Grizzlies number-one in their future power rankings. (The Future Power Rankings are ESPN’s projection of the on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons: 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.)
Noted sports journalist and all-around smart guy Bomani Jones devoted a segment to the Memphis Grizzlies in a recent episode of his new show, “Game Theory.” Jones hit on the cultural phenomenon that is this team and how deep their connection is to the city of Memphis.
Former NBA player and Grizzlies foe Kendrick Perkins has been one of the most outspoken in his support and belief in this team. Yes, THAT Kendrick Perkins.
It feels good to see people recognizing what Grizzlies fans have already known: There is something special happening here in Hoop City and it transcends performance on the court.
Memphis Loves the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies Love Memphis
The players on this team are such great ambassadors for Memphis and the game of basketball — just a group of guys who love the game, love playing together, and love putting on for the city.
The Grizzlies organization does a lot of philanthropy around the city and the players have bought into that as well, partnering with local schools in the Read to Achieve program, Stronger Together Memphis, and the rePRESENT Every Day incentive-based program to help reduce truancy. (As a side note, I’d love to see another recorded message for students in the city, a la Tony Allen in 2015)
Head coach Taylor Jenkins’ Assists for Education program is in its third season. Jenkins once again pledged to donate $10 per assist throughout the season, with a focus on providing supplies and necessities for students in the Greater Memphis area. Team members are also ambassadors for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, another Memphis institution. You can’t throw a rock in this city without touching on something that has been made better by the existence of this team.
All this to say – the Memphis Grizzlies are poised to make a big splash in the postseason, and I dare say their window for title contention opens now. But they are already champions in the eyes of Memphians for their works on and off the court.
It’s about time everyone else got the memo.
