Tag: Desmond Bane

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Grizzlies Erupt in Second Half, Down Spurs

Ja Morant goes up for a bucket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 15, 2025. (Photo by: Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies delivered a dominant second-half performance, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 129-115 on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center. 

Memphis’ high-powered offense, which averages a league-leading 122.9 points per game, was on full display after a dismal first-half. The Grizzlies also demonstrated their rebounding prowess; they are the second-ranked team in the league with a little over 48 rebounds per game.

It was a tale of two halves, indeed!  The Grizzlies trailed 63-51 at halftime but staged an impressive comeback, outscoring San Antonio 78-52 in the second half. The turnaround was sparked by a dominant 43-point third quarter, setting the stage for a much needed win. 

Ja Morant had a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, dishing out 12 assists, grabbing four rebounds, and making two steals, all while shooting an impressive 9/13 from the field.

Desmond Bane also delivered a good  performance, scoring 21 points on 8/13 shooting, while also contributing three rebounds and two steals. Notably, he scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half, playing a crucial role in the Memphis victory, which improved their record to 26-15 on the season.

Memphis’ bench was instrumental, outscoring the Spurs’ bench 57-37. Santi Aldama led the reserves with 20 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9/15 from the field. Luke Kennard chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jay Huff added 11 points. The Grizzlies’ bench depth and versatility played a crucial role in the victory.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had a rough start, shooting 2-for-11 in the first half, and to make matters worse he had to sit most of the 3rd quarter after picking up his fourth personal foul. However, he turned things around in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 19 points, grabbing six rebounds, and issuing two blocks. The performance was a testament to Jackson’s ability to bounce back from a tough start and make an impact on the game.

Turnovers have been an issue for Memphis all season long, but not Wednesday night. The Grizzlies committed just eight for the game. They had six turnovers before halftime, followed by just two in the third quarter, and remarkably, none in the fourth. They didn’t allow the Spurs to capitalize on any turnovers in the second half.

The Dunk That Was

Morant’s poster dunk on Victor Wembanyama was an incredible moment. Even if it didn’t count towards the final score, it counted for entertainment purposes.The dunk, which happened after a whistle blew, had everyone going wild. 

Take a look: 

The dunk has been making waves online, with some even calling it the “dunk of the year.” Morant’s ability to make highlight-reel plays is one reason why he’s considered “must-see TV” whenever he’s on the court.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will wrap up their two-game series against the Spurs in San Antonio, and their four-game road trip on Friday, January 17, with a tip-off time of 8:30 p.m. CT.¹

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Jackson Jr. Dominates, Morant Delivers Knockout Blow in Win Over Wolves

Jaren Jackson shoots the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 11, 2025 (Photo by: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

A resilient Ja Morant exemplified the age-old adage, “it’s not how you start, but how you finish.” Despite a rough shooting night, Morant came through in the clutch, hitting two crucial baskets to propel the Memphis Grizzlies to a thrilling 127-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. 

In his second game back from injury, Morant’s impressive floater over the outstretched arms of Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert capped a comeback from a six-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining.

Watch the remarkable plays here: 

Morant finished the game with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists. 

Memphis snapped a six-game road losing streak against the Timberwolves, securing its first win at Target Center since May 5, 2021.

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s explosive 33-point, eight-rebound outing propelled the Grizzlies to the victory, and a 25-14 record, with the standout forward displaying a potent mix of scoring firepower and defensive acumen.

He even had a highlight play of his own to beat the shot clock. 

The 25-year-old remains a vital piece of Memphis’ core, delivering impressive averages of 22.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, with a significant 28.2% usage rate, this season.

Desmond Bane turned in a well-rounded effort, scoring 21 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He’s also found his scoring stride of late, topping 20 points in five of his last six outings following a shooting drought.

Rookie Jaylen Wells showcased his defensive expertise, holding Timberwolves’ star guard Anthony Edwards to 2-of-7 shooting as the primary defender, according to NBA.com matchups. His impressive performance drew parallels to Grizzlies legend Tony Allen, known for his suffocating defense, with Wells effectively “shutting off the water” on the opposing scorer. Wells finished with 13 points and three steals. 

The 21-year-old should definitely be in the running for the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s averaging 11.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

The Grizzlies are headed to Houston to face off against their division rivals, the Houston Rockets, in a highly anticipated rematch. The Rockets edged the Grizzlies 119-115 at FedExForum on January 9, and Memphis is eager for payback. The matchup is set for January 13 at the Toyota Center in Houston with a tipoff at 7pm CT. 

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Kings Outlast Grizzlies in High-Scoring Affair

Jaylen Wells shoots the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 3, 2025 (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Friday night at Golden 1 Center, the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Sacramento Kings, 138-133. With the loss, the Grizzlies are now 23-12 on the season. 

 The Kings came out firing, dropping 46 points in the first quarter – the most the Grizzlies have surrendered in a single quarter all season. That explosive start gave the Kings a commanding 14-point lead, 46-32, by the end of the period.

The Grizzlies came back and made a game of it, though, staying competitive until the very end, when Sacramento made the necessary plays in the clutch to pull away and secure the win.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins expressed disappointment after the loss, praising the Kings’ strong start. He cited excessive turnovers and defensive lapses as key issues, emphasizing that allowing 46 first-quarter points on the road is unacceptable. Jenkins lauded his team’s resilience in overcoming a 15-point deficit but still was upset about their defensive standard. 

He said, “Great fight, but we’ve got to set a different tone, especially on the road in the first quarter, and we can’t be bleeding points like this. Defensively, you give up 138 points and score 133 – you can be like, Yay, on the offense, but defensively, that’s not our identity.”

Rookie Jaylen Wells, a Sacramento native, had a memorable homecoming with a career-high 30 points, highlighted by an impressive 8-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Despite his outstanding performance, the Grizzlies fell short, moving to 2-2 on their five-game road trip.

Jaren Jackson Jr. delivered another strong game with 28 points, six rebounds, and five assists before fouling out — with all six fouls assessed in the 4th quarter. Meanwhile, Desmond Bane chipped in with 22 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, providing a solid all-around contribution.

To round it out, Scottie Pippen Jr. contributed 16 points and 5 assists, while Luke Kennard had a strong showing off the bench with 11 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double.

The Grizzlies are wrapping up their five-game road trip tonight against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, with a tipoff at 7:30 p.m. CT.

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Grizzlies Get Caught in Thunder’s Storm

Desmond Bane handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 29, 2024 at Paycom Center. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

John Konchar drew the start at power forward, pairing with Jaren Jackson Jr. as the Grizzlies battled the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the league’s top squads. The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies, 130-106.

Memphis came out with great energy to take a 9-0 lead but it went downhill from there quickly. The Thunder took a 34-31 lead after the first period and never relinquished it. OKC took control of the game with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Grizzlies 42-19 to build a commanding lead.

The Thunder also capitalized on Memphis’ miscues, converting 21 Grizzlies turnovers into 33 points.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Jay Huff added 17 points off the bench followed by Luke Kennard with 16 points and 5 rebounds as the Grizzlies fell to 22-11 on the season.

Jackson Jr. had a rough shooting night ending in just 13 points (3-of-17), five rebounds and four assists while Konchar had a season-high 15 rebounds, four points, three steals and two blocked shots. Rookie sensation Yuki Kawamura had a season-high 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Grizzlies were definitely facing an uphill battle against the Thunder without some of their key players. With Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke all sidelined due to injury, it was a tough ask for the rest of the team to step up and fill the void.

And let’s not forget that the Grizzlies were already missing some other important pieces, including Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, Vince Williams Jr., and GG Jackson II.

Looking ahead, it’ll be interesting to see how the Grizzlies’ rotation shakes out when everyone is healthy. The game was ugly from a Grizzlies standpoint and I’m not even sure what positives to convey after that. But, I will try.

For now, it’s just one game, but the Grizzlies desperately need to get some of their injured players back on the court. The biggest concern is Ja Morant’s AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, and everyone is anxiously awaiting an update on the severity of the injury.

The fact that it’s the same shoulder that cut his season short last January is certainly concerning. However, fortunately, initial indications suggest that the injury might not be as severe as it initially appeared. Here’s hoping that’s indeed the case, for Morant’s and the Grizzlies’ sake.

The injury woes and Ja Morant’s uncertain status may feel eerily familiar to Grizzlies fans, but it’s worth noting that the team is in a stronger position now than they were last season when faced with a similar rash of injuries. Despite the current challenges, there’s reason to be optimistic.

Jackson Jr., Bane, and the rest of the squad will need to step up and hold down the fort until the injured players return. With their collective talent and determination, they can keep the Grizzlies afloat and poised for a strong push when the reinforcements arrive. Like the players always say, “One game at a time.”

The Grizzlies will continue their five-game road trip with a New Year’s Eve showdown against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on Tuesday, December 31, at 8 p.m. CT.

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Grizzlies Get Payback Against Brooklyn

Photo by: Sharon Brown

The Memphis Grizzlies finally got their lick back against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night at FedExForum. The Grizzlies snapped their losing streak against the Nets, taking the final of the season’s three-game matchup, 135-119. Brooklyn had won the first two meetings. 

“The biggest thing was just [we were] locked in on the game plan,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the biggest difference from playing the Nets earlier in the season. 

“We had way too many mistakes with our game plan. We learned a lot in the first game, and then we played them less than a week later up in Brooklyn, and we knew the game plan, we talked about it, watched the film, broke it down, all that, and we didn’t execute it.”

Jenkins concluded, “Maybe we just needed a couple extra weeks. I would give the Nets a lot of credit. They helped us a lot with our one-on-one defense and our shell defense, and they still made it tough tonight. When we made a mistake, they made you pay, but when we kind of dictated where our offense went, I thought we benefited.”

Memphis’ high-powered offense has fueled an 11-game streak of scoring 115+ points, matching the second-longest such mark in franchise history. The surge has led to a 10-1 record in those games, including a current four-game winning streak and a season-best six straight home victories.

The Grizzlies’ impressive scoring depth was on display against Brooklyn as four players reached the 20-point mark. 

Ja Morant’s stellar play continued, as he notched his seventh double-double of the season, including 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. The Grizzlies improved to 18-8 on the season, thanks in part to Morant’s 16-point outburst in the second quarter — a season-high for him and the highest scoring quarter by any Memphis player this season.

Morant really didn’t want to lose to the Nets for the third time. After the game he recalled the difference from the earlier two meetings against Brooklyn: “Our fight — (we) have been coming out ready to play. I feel like [Desmond Bane] set the tone for us from the jump, and I feel like that’s what we were missing. Second half, we played a little slow in both of those [earlier] games when they went on their runs; it was allowing them to continue to score the ball and slow us down offensively. Tonight, I feel like we were more locked in, paid attention to detail. 

Morant continued, “Obviously, we know we owed them two for real, but I felt like it was on purpose that they were our matchup after the in-season tournament, and it’s what we needed. Obviously, you lose to a team twice, you get another chance at it. It’s kind of refreshing for us to come and get a win. It’s something to be proud of. You lose to a team; you always want to get your lick back.”

The Grizzlies’ balanced attack saw Bane scoring 21 points and dishing out eight assists, and Jaren Jackson Jr. adding 20 points, seven rebounds, and a season-high five steals.

Santi Aldama delivered a strong performance off the bench, tallying 20 points and grabbing six rebounds, which pushed him past the 1,000-rebound threshold for his career.

Everything is clicking for the Grizzlies right now but Bane has the right mindset going forward:  “We have to stay even keeled, it’s a long season,” Bane cautioned. “Adversity is going to hit us at some point, but we have to stay true to what we’ve built, regardless of the results.”

Tid-bits

Prior to tipoff, Jaylen Wells received the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for his outstanding play in October and November. Notably, Wells is the first Grizzlies rookie to receive this recognition since Ja Morant in the 2019-20 season. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies are heading to Los Angeles to face off against the Lakers on Sunday, December 15. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. CST at the Crypto.com Arena.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies End Decade-Long Skid in Beantown

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies at the free-throw line during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 7, 2024. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The drought is over. The Memphis Grizzlies ended a decade-long losing streak in Boston by defeating the Celtics 127-121, Saturday night. It was the Grizzlies’ first win in Boston since November 27, 2013.

In a testament to their resilience, the Grizzlies overcame the daunting challenge of TD Garden, one of the NBA’s most hostile environments. Memphis has won eight of its last nine games. 

The Grizzlies’ stifling defense proved too much for the Celtics, who were held to 40 percent shooting and 30 percent from beyond the arc (18-60). Memphis’ defensive game plan was particularly effective in limiting the Celtics’ star players, with Jayson Tatum struggling to a season-low 28.6% shooting and Jaylen Brown coughing up a team-high five turnovers.

Memphis outscored the Celtics 64-40 in the paint. The Grizzlies had 22 fast break points while Boston had just four.

Shaking off a tough night against the Kings in his previous game, Ja Morant delivered a clutch performance, with a near triple-double: 31 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

And as the old folks would say, he had pep in his step. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. was also on fire, doing a little bit of everything to secure the victory. He had a stellar fourth quarter, going 6 of 9 from the field to score 14 of his 27 points. Jackson Jr.’s impact was more than just scoring; he also contributed nine rebounds, four blocks, and three steals, showcasing his remarkable defensive prowess and all-around talent.

Brandon Clarke turned in a standout performance, contributing 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals while shooting 9-of-11 from the field. Desmond Bane also played a key role down the stretch, scoring nine of his 14 points in the final period to help the Grizzlies improve to 16-8 on the season. 

In his first game back at TD Garden since the 2023 trade that sent him to Memphis, Marcus Smart had a tough shooting night, going 1-of-11 from the floor for three points in 19 minutes of action. But the only thing that mattered was a win. 

Smart entered the game with 8:50 remaining in the first quarter, the Celtics crowd erupted into a standing ovation, prompting Smart to pause and wave in appreciation of the warm reception.

Up Next

The Grizzlies will take on the Washington Wizards tonight at 6:00 p.m. CT at Capital One Arena. 

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Grizzlies’ Win Streak Snapped in Big D

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the Emirates NBA Cup game on December 3, 2024. (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)


As the Emirates NBA Cup group stage came to a close, the Dallas Mavericks ended the Memphis Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak with a 121-116 win at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. 

The Mavericks improved to 14-8, while Memphis fell to 14-8. 

The Grizzlies went up by as many as 15 points early in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to take advantage of Dallas’ blunders and ultimately lost the game. But let’s not get it twisted: The main reason for the Grizzlies’ fourth-quarter collapse was the free-throw disparity.  

The Mavericks’ 44 free throws (compared to Memphis’ 14) were the game-changer. It’s unheard of to have a free-throw differential of 30. In the final period, Dallas went to the line 26 times while the Grizzlies managed to go just three times. It was a 26-3 free-throw advantage in the fourth quarter. 

The Mavericks’ 23-free-throw edge in was the most lopsided fourth quarter disparity in the NBA since 2015 according to ESPN Stats & Info. 

Plus, Memphis couldn’t find a rhythm and went eight of 23 from the field and a dismal 2 of 10 from the three-point line in the final quarter. The Grizzlies’ offense stalled in the final three minutes, scoring just five points while making only two of nine shots, allowing the Mavericks to pull away with an 18-5 run. Dallas won the period, 39-21. 

The final period took a whopping 42 minutes to finish. 

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with a season-best 31 points. Desmond Bane added 19 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds, and Santi Aldama provided a spark off the bench with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Weird coincidence 

Memphis defeated the Mavericks in preseason, 121-116 on October 4, 2024 in Dallas. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies are gearing up to host the Sacramento Kings at FedExForum this Thursday, December 5, at 7 p.m. CT.

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Grizz Beat 76ers; Jenkins Surpasses Hollins as Winningest Coach

Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, November 20th at FedExForum. (Photo credit: @memgrizz on X (formerly known as Twitter)

Wednesday’s 117-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was a historic moment for Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins, as he notched his 215th career win and became the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, surpassing the legendary Lionel Hollins.

After the game, Jenkins reflected on becoming the team’s winningest coach, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and acknowledging the coaches who paved the way before him. He emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with players and the community, and said he feels blessed to be part of the Grizzlies’ legacy:

“It’s an unbelievable honor to be among the company of so many great coaches that have come before me. I always talk about the unbelievable responsibility I have: to be the head coach of this franchise. The faith that Robert [Pera]’s had in me, [Zach Kleiman]’s had in me, our players, the staff I get to work with every single day.” 

Jenkins recalled what former Grizzlies coaches had told him: “They said Memphis is going to give you everything they’ve got if you give them everything you’ve got, but they’re going to give it to you ten-fold. So, I hope I can give it to them ten-fold, they can give it to me a hundredfold and more. It’s an honor.”

Against Philadelphia, Memphis showcased a well-rounded offense, with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge with 25 points. Through 14 games, Jackson Jr. is averaging 23 points per game to lead the Grizzlies to 9-7 on the season. 

Desmond Bane was also impressive, narrowly missing a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. 

Bane had been struggling offensively after returning from injury. On Tuesday night in the 122-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets, he went 1-of-10 from the field. He knew he had to be better. 

“I didn’t like the way I played last night (against Denver),” said Bane. “I slept on it, thought about it, and wanted to come back and make sure that I led with the right foot forward, so I knew that I was gonna lead. I didn’t know how, but I knew I was going to lead.”

Other key contributors included Santi Aldama with 12 points and six assists, rookie Jaylen Wells with 14 points and standout defensive play, Luke Kennard with 12 points, including three three-pointers, and Jake LaRavia, who added 11 points, 5 rebounds, four assists while shooting 4-of-4 from the field. 

Despite being short-handed, the Grizzlies have shown resilience. Notably absent from the lineup are several key players, including Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Zach Edey, GG Jackson II, Vince Williams Jr., and John Konchar.

On the Horizon

The Grizzlies are set to face the Chicago Bulls on the road this Saturday, November 23rd. Following that, they’ll head back to Memphis for a four-game homestand, which tips off on Monday, November 26, against the Portland Trail Blazers, and continues with matchups against the Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers.

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Grizzlies Topple Nuggets

Jaren Jackson Jr. at the free-throw line in a game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, November 17, 2024 (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to shine for the Memphis Grizzlies, leading the team in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with 20 points, and adding six rebounds and three blocks to help secure an impressive 105-90 win over the Denver Nuggets, Sunday. Jackson Jr. finished the game with a plus-minus of +15. 

The performance was the latest in a streak of impressive games, including 32 points against the Golden State Warriors on November 15, and 29 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13. Jackson also had a standout game against the Washington Wizards on November 8, scoring 39 points.

Rookie Jaylen Wells added 15 points and Desmond Bane recorded his fifth career double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. It was the Grizzlies’ fourth straight home victory, putting them at 5-2 on the season at FedExForum.

A pivotal 14-1 surge in the second quarter transformed a narrow Memphis lead into a double-digit advantage, with the Grizzlies outscoring Denver 27-18 in the quarter. 

The Grizzlies achieved their sixth 30-assist game this season with 31 against the Nuggets. Ranked third in league assists per game, Memphis converted 31 of its 41 field goals from assists, and showcased balanced playmaking, with five players recording at least four assists.

Denver, the league’s second-ranked team in assists, was held to a season-low-tying 23 assists. The Nuggets were without MVP Nikola Jokic for the second straight game due to personal reasons. 

What They Said

What Vince Williams Jr. had to say after the game: 

On returning to play since injury:

“It’s decent right now. I can’t really say I’m in; can’t really say I’m out, but I’m just trying to figure it out and take things day by day. I’m working with training staff, trying to see what’s going on with my body. … I’m having fun being out there on the court again.”

On his perspective of not starting: 

“Injuries happen, so I’m just trying to battle that right now. And then, it’s just about my team winning, so I’ll do whatever to help my team win.”

On passing the ball:

“I like to give my teammates the ball. I feel like they knock down shots for me. I kind of know where they want the ball at certain times. I missed Santi [Aldama] twice today, so I’ll make it up to him.”

Update on Ja Morant 

During pregame availability, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said Morant was still week to week due to right hip (subluxation and pelvic muscle strains). He said the 25-year-old will have imaging done soon.

However on X (formerly known as Twitter), Morant provided an update on his own. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies will take on the Nuggets again at FedExForum on Tuesday, November 19, at 7 p.m. CT, in their second Emirates NBA Cup Group Play matchup.

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Grind Time: Grizzlies Preview

Ja Morant (12) and Yuki Kawamura dance at the Memphis Grizzlies open practice on October 6th at FedExForum. (Photos: Wes Hale)

Injuries and frustrations plagued the Memphis Grizzlies for most of the 2023–2024 season, beginning with standout point guard Ja Morant’s 25-game ban. Even after making a triumphant return, Morant was sidelined with a season-ending shoulder surgery that limited him to playing just nine games.

Coming off two seasons when they were near the top of the Western Conference, this young club was humbled and finished near the bottom of the standings. 

By the time the regular season ended, Memphis had most of its roster on the injured list. They took on a record number of 10-day contracts to have the minimally allowed number of available players and relied heavily on the players on two-way contracts. No team in NBA history has employed more players and starting lineups than the Grizzlies last season.

The departure of Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets and the minimal playing time that backup Brandon Clarke had in the previous season after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery left the Grizzlies in dire need of a competent big man heading into the offseason.

With the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Grizzlies acquired 7’4” Purdue center Zach Edey, who addressed a gap in the team’s roster. The remainder of the league is in for some terrifying hours if Edey’s preseason dominance continues into the regular season and beyond.

Along with Edey, the Grizzlies selected small forward Jaylen Wells with the 39th pick in the draft. As the lone Grizzlies player to reach double digits in five preseason games, Wells was a shining example of the team’s potential on both ends of the floor.

After Derrick Rose asked to be waived and subsequently retired from the league, another roster spot became available. As a result, Scotty Pippen Jr.’s two-way contract was converted to a standard multi-year deal while Yuki Kawamura went from having an Exhibit 10 contract to having a two-way offer.

Scotty Pippen Jr. shoots the ball during warm-ups before the preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum on October 10th. 

New Beginnings 

Will both atonement and vengeance drive the Grizzlies’ efforts this year?

The Grizzlies will be considered underdogs to begin the season due to recency bias in the national media’s expected rankings. That being said, it’s for the best because that’s where this squad excels.

“We know who we are; we know what we’re capable of. It’s just about going out there and doing it now,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said during media day.

The previous two seasons prove that Memphis can inflict havoc at the top of the Western Conference when healthy, so fans should see last season’s dismal record as more of an outlier than anything else. They have the ability to get back on track in the standings. It may not be returning to the second seed, but it definitely will be an improvement over the previous position in last year’s campaign. 

With former Defensive Players of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart plus defensive menace Vince Williams Jr., this organization has a strong defensive foundation. Memphis was 12th in the NBA in defensive rating last season, despite their entire season being a train wreck.

Solid role players, including three-point shooters and young, adaptable talent, complement the club’s depth that is already strong thanks to Bane, Jackson Jr., and its spark Morant.

Forward GG Jackson II, who made a meteoric rise to prominence last season at the tender age of 19, is someone the Grizzlies are keeping their fingers crossed for. He was the game-changer in a doomed season and earned himself a standard contract. With 6’9”, highly athletic Jackson II on the court, it provides the team dynamic options, particularly in half-court sets. Last season, fans didn’t get to witness Jackson II and Morant develop a connection on the court. 

Since Jackson II is still healing from foot surgery, we should expect to see him start the season sometime in December, so we will need to exercise patience till we witness his and Morant’s synergy.

The Grizzlies need to get back to their brand of basketball. When Memphis was the Western Conference runner-up in 2021–22 and 2022–23, they averaged more points in the paint than any other team in the league. They had the worst point differential and placed 13th in the Western Conference a season ago.

The squad now is looking to boast a more dynamic offensive game thanks to Taylor Jenkins and his reorganized coaching staff. Last year, Memphis’ offensive rating was the worst in the league.

Edey and Morant’s pick-and-rolls will feed families this season. Edey’s fit into the starting center position will allow Jackson Jr. to play at the four, where he excels.

Making a deep run in the playoffs is within reach if Memphis can avoid significant injuries this upcoming season. 

12 Is Back

Given that the NBA is known as a “what have you done for me lately” league, some may have forgotten about Morant’s presence on the court.

“A happy Ja is a scary Ja,” according to Morant, who made the bold proclamation during last month’s media day. 

Morant showed flashes of his dominance in the last preseason game this past Friday. In 25 minutes of play, Morant ended with 17 points and six assists in the preseason finale. He called his performance light and implied a secret weapon will be seen in the season opener in Utah.

The South Carolina native was thrilled to return to FedExForum after injury, citing fans as his driving force and motivation to perform. It was his first time playing before the home crowd since January 3, 2024. 

In 2022–23, his last complete season (61 games), he played 31.9 minutes per game and averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.

He understands that his availability is crucial to the Grizzlies’ success, so he’s been making an effort to avoid injuries and off-the-court issues like those that nearly derailed his career. 

The two-time All-Star is still one of the league’s most exciting players, and he will make sure the league remembers who he is.