If you had asked before the season what the expectations were for the Grizzlies in 2023-24, a host of injuries for most of the roster leading to a record of 27-55 and no postseason opportunities likely wasn’t it.
There were obvious questions about how the team would fare in the absence of Ja Morant during the first 25 games, as he served his league-issued suspension, but the consensus back then was that the rest of the roster could hold it down until Morant’s return in January and the Grizzlies would pick right back up where they left off as one of the most dominant teams in the league, near the top of the western conference.
Unfortunately, that is not how it went down. Ja Morant returned as energized and dynamic as before, but a shoulder injury that required surgery ended his season after just nine games played.
In the aftermath of a season where nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Memphis, there are still some vestiges of hope for Grizzlies fans.
While the rest of the league seems to have forgotten about their existence, the vibe in the room during Memphis Grizzlies exit interviews was that of a team that faced more adversity than was possible to overcome in the moment, but one that still had great hopes for the future.
I think it is more likely than not that the core of this Grizzlies team is going to return to action next season with a massive chip on their shoulders, ready to prove wrong any doubters or naysayers, and eager to remind the league that Memphis is still a force to be reckoned with.
Grizzlies’ general manager Zach Kleiman has said that Morant’s recovery from injury was progressing well and expected that he would be cleared to resume basketball activities over the summer. Regarding other players on the injured list, Kleiman said the timetable for recovery was in terms of weeks, not months.
It should be some comfort to anyone who follows this team that the reason for their struggles was due to factors outside of their control, rather than players regressing. Player injuries had a huge impact on the season, so much so that it required the team to sign a plethora of 10-day contracts just to have eight players available for games, the minimum the league allows.
Memphis set two league records by using 51 different starting lineups and 33 different players this season.
The Grizzlies’ big free agency move of the summer was trading for former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, he wasn’t immune to the injury bug that plagued the rest of the team, and only played in 20 games. Smart remains under contract through the 2025-26 season and is expected to play next season.
Two of the team’s big three took on outsized roles in the absence of Morant.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane both took on a leadership role of sorts, and the pair did a lot of heavy lifting throughout the season, playing as hard as possible even when a game’s outlook was bleak. Jackson and Bane both saw an increase in average points per game, while also increasing their shot attempts and minutes played.
Bane’s points per game average increased from 21.5 points last season to 23.7 points =this season, while his overall field goal attempts increased from 16.2 attempts per game last season to 18.5 attempts this season. His minutes per game increased from 31.7 in 2022-23 to 34.4 this season.
Jackson’s trajectory shows a similar increase, with his points per game average increasing from 18.6 last season to 22.5 points this season. His field goal attempts rose from 13.0 attempts per game in 2022-23 to 17.6 this season. His minutes per game increased from 28.4 last season to 32.2 this season.
There were other positive aspects of this lost season, in terms of player development.
The emergence of Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson was a balm for an otherwise sore season. Likewise with the return of Brandon Clarke for a handful of games near season’s end.
Clarke needed hardly any time to return to his previous form, which is both a good sign for the future and a testament to how seriously he took his rehab and recovery.
Williams Jr. and GG Jackson both started the season on two-way contracts and spent a portion of the season playing with the team’s G-league affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, until having those contracts converted to a regular contract with the team and earning official roster spots.
It is unlikely that either player would have seen significant NBA minutes this season without the spate of injuries. Williams Jr. appeared in 52 games, with 33 of those in the starting lineup. Similarly, Jackson appeared in 48 games, and started in 18 of those.
Signing Williams Jr. and Jackson to regular team contracts left more two-way contracts available, and Memphis used those to add center Trey Jemison and point guards Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jordan Goodwin.
Jemison appeared in 23 games, with 14 appearances in the starting lineup, and averaged 7.4 points in 24.9 minutes per game.
Pippen Jr., son of Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, played 21 games, 16 as the starting point guard. He averaged 12.9 points and 25.1 minutes per game.
Goodwin appeared in 17 games, including 12 as a starter, while averaging 10 points and 29.2 minutes.
There is no disputing that the season’s outcome was a disappointment, but despite finishing 13th in the Western Conference, the outlook for the Grizzlies going forward seems bright.
