It has been a long, hot summer but the return of Grizzlies basketball is almost upon us.
There were a lot of fresh faces at the Grizzlies preseason media day, as well as the absence of Kyle Anderson, who signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the off-season, and De’Anthony Melton, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that sent veteran Danny Green to Memphis.
Five newcomers will be joining the squad in training camp with hopes of securing a roster spot. Four of these were draft-night acquisitions — Jake LaRavia, Kennedy Chandler, David Roddy, and Vince Williams Jr., while Kenneth Lofton Jr. was picked up after going undrafted.
Lofton was signed as a two-way player after an impressive showing during Summer League. His size and awareness around the rim are very reminiscent of a baby Zach Randolph.
If Lofton’s performance against Chet Holgram, this year’s second draft pick, is any indication of things to come we should all be watching his career with great interest.
Vince Williams Jr. was also signed as a two-way player so expect to see him getting minutes alongside Lofton with the Memphis Hustle, the team’s G-league affiliate.
Grizzlies general manager and 2022 NBA Executive of the Year Zach Kleiman is confident that there will be full access to the G-League this season, which will increase development opportunities for this latest crop of young players. League restrictions during the height of the Covid pandemic prevented the G-League from having the full 50-game season the past two years.
The symbiotic relationship between the Grizzlies and Hustle has already borne fruit in the form of guard John Konchar, who spent most of his first two years assigned to the Hustle. Konchar signed a contract extension this summer worth $19 million over three years.
Memphis also picked up three-time NBA champion Danny Green, who will add veteran leadership in the locker room and on the court as well as perimeter defense and three-point shooting — areas where the Grizzlies are always looking to improve. Multiple players have expressed excitement about Green’s addition to the squad. Desmond Bane cited Green as one of his role models entering the league.
Bane also told media members that in order to improve, the squad needs to stay hungry and “do what they did but better” in reference to last year.
Center Steven Adams indicated that one of the areas he worked on in the offseason was free throw shooting. Adams has a career free-throw shooting percentage of 54 percent, which is … not great. Missing free throws were a huge thorn in the team’s side last season.
A common theme among returning players was continuing to play with a chip on their shoulders even as they have shed their underdog status. Last season’s playoff run put the team on wider display as championship contenders. The 2022-23 season brings the Grizzlies 18 nationally televised games, the most in franchise history. There will be a lot of eyes on Memphis this season now that the team has effectively put the league on notice.
As we approach the start of the NBA season, questions persist about who will fill in at the power forward position while Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to rehab from injury. Head coach Taylor Jenkins made it clear that filling that spot would be earned through fierce competition among players.
Another item of note:
All teams this year will be wearing a black number 6 patch on the top left corner of their jerseys to honor NBA legend Bill Russell, who passed away at the age of 88 in July.
The NBA will be honoring Russell’s legacy as an 11-time NBA champion and eventually the first Black coach in the NBA by retiring his number 6 across the league. Russell is the first player in NBA history to receive this honor.
The Grizzlies will begin their training camp today and will have their first preseason game Saturday, October 1st. The 2022-23 regular season kicks off for Memphis on October 19th when they face the New York Knicks at FedExForum.
The entire 2022-23 schedule for the Grizzlies can be found here.