Tag: Scotty Pippen Jr.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Season Ends in Disappointment

Scotty Pippen Jr. shoots a three-point shot in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Oklahoma City Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies with a thrilling 117-115 win on Saturday, capping off a tumultuous season for Memphis.

The season took a dramatic turn with the firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins, who was let go with just nine games remaining.

Memphis also faced significant challenges heading into their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before the series even began, they had lost two key players to season-ending injuries: Brandon Clarke, who suffered a knee injury in March, and Jaylen Wells, who was sidelined with a broken wrist in April. 

To make matters worse, star guard Ja Morant suffered a hip contusion during Game 3 after colliding with Thunder defender Lu  Dort, which kept him out of Game 4. After the loss of Clarke and Wells, Morant’s absence proved too much for the Grizzlies to overcome.

“The season didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Desmond Bane said after Saturday’s loss. “We do have a strong sense of who we are and what we want to be. We didn’t win a game in a series, so we know we’ve still got a long way to go. We’re going to approach the offseason in that manner.”

Bane described the season as “unique,” succinctly capturing the Grizzlies’ rollercoaster experience.

They’re a good team,” Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. said of the Thunder after the series loss. “They were a good team for all these games, and we had a lot of chances, a lot of moments, especially in these last two games to capitalize on certain things.” 

Jackson Jr. acknowledged that he needs to improve, and took responsibility for putting his team in position to succeed by making better plays, reducing turnovers, and performing better in the postseason.

The Thunder did a great job neutralizing Jackson Jr.’s offense. “I’m putting it on myself to continue to bring that to the team because they deserve to get the best version of me out there,” Jackson said. “They brought a lot of defensive pressure. I gotta be ready for that and be able to make adjustments. You gotta have the little things down playing a team like this.”

Jackson Jr. and Bane’s efforts to lead the Grizzlies to wins without Morant raises concerns about their ability to effectively complement him when he’s on the court in the postseason.

Jackson Jr.’s playoff performance, for example, was a step back from his regular season form. After averaging 22.2 points on 48.8% shooting during the regular season, he dropped to 16 points per game on 37.9% shooting in the playoffs.

Bane’s playoff performance was also a notable decline from his regular season form, particularly from beyond the arc, where he shot a dismal 21.9% compared to his regular season mark of nearly 40%.

Memphis badly needed Jackson Jr. and Bane to excel, particularly after Ja Morant’s injury, to keep their season afloat. After lackluster showings in Games 3 and 4, it’s time for them to step up and perform at a higher level in the postseason going forward. 

Scotty Pippen Jr. made a valiant effort, averaging 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals over the last two games. One of the few bright spots of the post-season.

Before fouling out on Saturday, Pippen led the Grizzlies with 30 points and 11 rebounds, achieving his first career playoff double-double and setting a new playoff career high.

But Memphis ultimately fell short of expectations, wrapping up a disappointing 2024-25 season that fueled rumors of potential roster shakeups, especially given the team’s experienced core and the high expectations that come with it. With only one playoff series win during Morant’s tenure, change might be imminent.

Interim Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo praised the team’s perseverance, character, and togetherness, citing the significant emotional turmoil arising from a coaching change, injuries, and tough losses. He lauded the players for staying focused and not giving up.

The Grizzlies’ season has ended, but numerous questions remain about the team’s future path and what changes lie ahead.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Clinch Playoff Berth

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives against Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) during the first half on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis. (Photo: Wes Hale)

The Memphis Grizzlies are headed back to the playoffs after a season marked by injuries and turmoil.

The Grizzlies convincingly clinched the eighth seed in the NBA playoffs, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 in a win or go home game of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.

Memphis dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 39-24 with a 22-9 run in the final three minutes. They extended their lead to as many as 25 points in the second quarter, holding a 66-49 halftime advantage. 

Although Dallas gained momentum in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to seven points, the Grizzlies maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. 

Memphis dominated inside, outscoring the Mavericks 60-44 in paint points and out-rebounding them 50-36, with 16 offensive rebounds to Dallas’ 7. The Grizzlies also outscored Dallas 24-14 in points off turnovers.

As the Grizzlies’ season hung in the balance, Jaren Jackson Jr. sent a purposeful message to Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. 

“Setting the tone, I felt like us three were pretty much locked [in] the whole time,” Morant said, referring to himself, Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. “As soon as the Warriors game was over we pretty much locked in on what we had to do to get to this point. Trip [Jackson Jr.] sent us a little paragraph earlier. Me and Des responded and it pretty much was enough said. We already knew what we were going out there to do.” 

The players didn’t disclose the exact content of Jackson Jr.’s message, but Desmond Bane said it resonated with him and likely with Ja Morant as well.

“We’ve had a nice little group chat running all year long, and we’ve been able to pinball different things off each other,” Bane said of Jackson’s text message. “And I needed to hear it. I’m sure Ja needed to hear it, too, coming into this game. 

Bane continued, “Our response was, ‘Let’s march; let’s do it. Let’s put our best foot forward; let’s go do it. 

Neither player was ready for their season to end. 

Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 24 points, going 10-for-18 from the field and 4-for-5 on threes, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists in 36 minutes.

Morant was a game-time decision due to a sprained ankle he suffered against Golden State on Tuesday. Despite the injury, he received two injections, constant treatment, and therapy to play and finished with 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in 32 minutes.

Desmond Bane scored 22 points, dished out nine assists, grabbed five rebounds, and had two steals. Zach Edey notched his second straight double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, adding two blocks.

Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 13 points in his second straight start, while Santi Aldama contributed 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists as a reserve. 

Off the bench, John Konchar tallied five points, eight rebounds, and two assists, with a team-high +18, and Marvin Bagley III posted six points, five rebounds, and one block.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will take on the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the NBA Playoffs. 

The Thunder went 4-0 against the Grizzlies in the regular season, winning by an average of 18.8 points per game.

Mark your calendars. Note: All times are Central.

Game 1: Sunday, April 20 | Grizzlies at OKC, 12:00 p.m. on ABC

Game 2:  Tuesday, April 22 | Grizzlies at OKC, 6:30 p.m. on TNT and FanDuel Sports Network 

Game 3:  Thursday, April 24 | OKC at Grizzlies, 8:30 p.m. on TNT and FanDuel Sports Network 

Game 4:  Saturday, April 26 | OKC at Grizzlies, 2:30 p.m on TNT and FanDuel Sports Network 

Game 5:  Monday, April 28 | Grizzlies at OKC, TBD (if necessary)

Game 6:  Thursday, May 1 | OKC at Grizzlies, TBD (if necessary)

Game 7:  Saturday, May 3 | Grizzlies at Jazz, TBD (if necessary)

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Post-Jenkins Era Begins with Loss to Lakers

Desmond Bane goes up for a layup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at FedExForum (Photo by: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, 134-127, on Saturday night only added to the shock of head coach Taylor Jenkins’ abrupt firing on Friday morning. Jenkins, who had been with the team for six seasons, was let go despite the Grizzlies’ 44-29 record, which has them tied with the Lakers for the 4/5 seeds in the Western Conference.

The decision to fire Jenkins was made by Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman, who cited “urgency” as a core principle of the team. Kleiman stated that he came to the conclusion that firing Jenkins was in the best interest of the team. 

Jenkins’ firing sent shockwaves through the NBA, with many questioning the timing and reasoning behind the decision. The Grizzlies named assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo as the interim head coach. 

Prior to the game Iisalo expressed shock and surprise at Jenkins’ sudden firing, stating he had no inkling it was coming. He then accepted the role of interim head coach and has been scrambling to get organized and adjust to the new situation. 

The Grizzlies’ first-quarter struggles remained unchanged despite the coaching change, as they trailed the Lakers 39-28.

Iisalo attributed the loss to a poor first half, citing the team’s failure to execute the basics. He acknowledged the Lakers’ potent trio, but emphasized that the Grizzlies’ slow start was the decisive factor. Iisalo stressed the need for improvement, particularly with back-to-back games looming.

“The goal of the game is to win, obviously,” said Iisalo. “So we can’t be happy with our performances — but it was encouraging to me after that lackluster start, we did a lot of things a lot better in the second half.” 

Iisalo continued: “We had better on-ball pressure — we did better in our pick and roll defense. We did not allow the opposition to get easy offensive rebounds. We applied friction, as we like to say, in the full court, to wear down their best players, and not just allow them to jog into their spots and get the exact shots.” 

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies, scoring 29 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

Jaren Jackson Jr. shook off early foul trouble to deliver a strong performance, scoring 24 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting.

Following a six-game absence, Ja Morant returned to the lineup and nearly recorded a triple-double, posting 22 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.

“Anything we want — we just got to lock back in,” Morant said when asked about what the team can still accomplish this year. “It’s not like we are eliminated from the playoffs,” Morant added. 

Morant emphasized the need for focus, communication, and teamwork to improve performance. He highlighted the importance of reading the game, making smart decisions, and playing with effort, while also stressing the need to correct simple mistakes and communicate effectively with teammates.

Zach Edey made a notable impact in his return to the starting lineup, contributing 14 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and swatting three blocks in 26 minutes of play.

Off the bench, Scotty Pippen Jr. provided a spark, scoring 16 points and dishing out five assists.

The Grizzlies continue a three-game homestand, hosting the Boston Celtics at FedExForum on Monday, March 31, at 6:30 p.m., with the game set to air on TNT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Leave Jazz Singing the Blues

Scotty Pippen Jr. dribbles the ball in a game against the Utah Jazz on March 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jamie Sabau/NBAE via Getty Images)

 The Memphis Grizzlies ended a three-game skid by routing the Utah Jazz 140-103, Tuesday night, capping off a 4-0 season series sweep.

Despite yet another sluggish start and trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half, the Grizzlies narrowed the deficit to 65-64 by halftime.

With a 41-17 third-quarter surge, Memphis took command of the game and improved to 44-28 for the season. The team now holds a slim half-game lead over the Lakers for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

The Grizzlies recorded 38 assists, outscored Utah 27-8 in points off turnovers, and dominated the boards 52-28, including a 17-4 advantage on the offensive glass. Additionally, Memphis had a 25-0 edge in second-chance points and outscored Utah 76-38 in the second half.

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged Jazz’s strong start, noting that Memphis lacked physicality and resistance in the first quarter and early second quarter, allowing Utah to get easy shots. However, he expressed relief that the Grizzlies were able to “weather the storm.”

Jenkins added: “We were getting what we needed on the offensive side, even though we were missing a couple shots there. But we made a great run at the end of the second quarter, and then just our resistance and physicality on the defensive side in the third quarter was so much better.”

“That allowed us to get out — our fast break numbers were better,” Jenkins continued. “We ended up with 38 assists. We were just playing with a different level of energy, because our defense sparked us.”

Desmond Bane led Memphis in scoring with 21 points, adding six assists and four rebounds in 29 minutes of action.

Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while also grabbing three rebounds and blocking two shots, before exiting with an injury in the third quarter. He rejoined the team on the bench in the fourth quarter.

In a notable defensive stretch, the Grizzlies held the Jazz to just a single field goal for over seven minutes following Jackson Jr.’s exit from the game.

Scotty Pippen Jr. delivered a strong all-around effort, tallying 16 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. Rookie Jaylen Wells had a solid performance, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out five assists.

The Grizzlies’ bench dominated their Jazz counterparts, outscoring them 65-39 while also controlling the glass with 29 rebounds and distributing 13 assists.

Zach Edey, Vince Williams Jr., and Jay Huff formed a potent bench trio, as all three players scored 15 points each.

The Grizzlies will conclude their five-game road trip on Thursday against the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, who boast an impressive 60-12 record. OKC currently holds a 3-0 advantage in the season series against Memphis.

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Uncategorized

Grizzlies Win Fourth Straight Game

Luke Kennard handing the ball against the Utah Jazz on March 12, 2025 at FedExForum (Photo by: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies invoked the “Call 12” mantra (Ja Morant) while joining forces with Memphis-10 (Luke Kennard to seal a thrilling 122-115 victory over the Utah Jazz Wednesday night, stretching their winning streak to four games.

At the half, Memphis was up by 14 points but Utah came storming back to make it a contest in the second half. 

Collin Sexton converted on a jumper to put the Jazz ahead 115-114 with 1:16 remaining, but the Grizzlies swiftly regained the lead as Luke Kennard drained a crucial three-pointer. Morant then delivered the finishing blow, knocking down another three to extend the Grizzlies’ advantage to 120-115 with only 12 seconds left.

Memphis converted 20-of-44 from beyond the arc (.455), including 7-of-10 in the fourth quarter. 

Kennard led the Grizzlies with career-high tying 30 points on 11 of 14 from the field including 7 of 9 from three. After the game, he talked about the importance of being aggressive — more active on both ends of the court, focusing on rebounding, creating deflections, and finding his rhythm early in the game.

Morant’s 28-point, seven-assist performance helped Memphis improve its season record to 42-24.

The All-Star guard acknowledged that the game against the Jazz wasn’t easy, despite their record. He emphasized that every NBA player deserves respect, and that the Jazz players came to play hard. Morant noted that his team had to lock in and stay focused after the Jazz cut into their lead, before ultimately securing the win.

Desmond Bane provided a strong all-around effort with 17 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. delivered a boost off the bench, contributing 11 points, six assists, and a team-high four steals.

Roster News

The Grizzlies announced that forward Lamar Stevens was signed for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old has been helping off the bench and scored a season-high 13 points, including a career-high four 3-pointers, in a win on March 10 vs Phoenix. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies face a formidable challenge as they host the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, March 15, with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm at FedExForum. Cleveland currently is on a 15-game winning streak. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Morant, Bane Propel Grizzlies to Win Over Pelicans

Ja Morant goes up for a shot during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 9, 2025. (Photo by: Layne Murdock Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies edged out the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 107-104 in a closely contested matchup Sunday night.

The Grizzlies are gaining momentum, having won two consecutive games after a dismal 1-4 performance on their recent 5-game homestand. The slump caused them to drop from second to fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Memphis dominated on the glass against New Orleans, grabbing 57 rebounds and scoring 24 second-chance points versus New Orleans’ 39 rebounds and 11 second-chance points.

The Grizzlies faced a 65-57 halftime deficit after surrendering 37 points in the second quarter. However, they regrouped and limited the Pelicans to just 15 points in the third quarter, seizing an 89-79 advantage heading into the final period.

Ja Morant had a standout performance, leading Memphis with 32 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Morant has now scored 30-plus points in his last two games. His season average is 21.2 points per game.

In a post-game interview with FanDuel Sports Network’s Rob Fischer, Ja Morant noted that despite the win, there are still areas where his team needs to improve.

 “Just came out with more energy,” Morant said of the third quarter difference. “We just once again man — our first half, we just be giving up easy baskets, not really engaged, locked in defensively, and then it takes a little wake up call, which is unacceptable for us. We got to be locked in as soon as the ball goes up in the air and so we won’t be in situations like this.”

Morant also acknowledged a slight improvement in the team’s defense, but emphasized that there is still significant room for growth and that they cannot be satisfied with their defensive performance over the last two games.

Desmond Bane put on a show, falling just shy of a triple-double with 30 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, as Memphis improved  to 40-24 on the season. 

Morant sang the praises of his backcourt partner, Bane.

“Very impressive — but I know the work he put in. I know the situations and the talks we have with each other. He’s built for it. And he’s showing it, night in and night out, as you saw tonight. 

Morant continued, “He filled up the stat sheet. I think it was a couple off, triple-double again and that’s big-time play for us, a will to win. We have a guy like that.part of leading the charge and everybody else follows. So we just got to continue to keep grinding, keep going, keep getting better and just play hard.”

Off the bench Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

The Grizzlies will host the Phoenix Suns Monday night at FedExForum, kicking off a four-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Memphis Keeps Rolling; Beat Bucks for Seventh Straight Time

Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 2, 2025 (Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies moved to 33-16 with a 132-119 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Sunday, securing their seventh win in eight games and a 2-0 season series sweep.

Memphis dominated the boards, outrebounding Milwaukee 61-36, with a 22-8 edge in offensive rebounds. The Grizzlies also held a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring the Bucks 66-36.

Memphis seized control of the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bucks 39-20. During this decisive period, the Grizzlies made 15 of their 27 shot attempts.

All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies with 37 points, including 16 in the final period. This performance showcased his ability as one of the league’s top fourth-quarter scorers, where he ranks ninth with an average of seven points per game.

Jackson Jr. had a solid shooting performance, making 12 of his 26 field goal attempts and seven of his 13 three-pointers.

In the absence of star guard Ja Morant due to injury, the Grizzlies received significant contributions from others as Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Desmond Bane also had a strong outing, posting 22 points and nine rebounds while shooting 9-15 from the field.

Zach Edey nabbed his sixth career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in 18 minutes of play. Off the bench Scotty Pippen Jr. had nine points, 10 assists — eight of which came in the final frame

Although GG Jackson II didn’t have a good shooting night, he did have a highlight block against Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

Jackson II chipped in five points and eight rebounds. 

The  Grizzlies are back at FedExForum tonight, February 3rd, to take on the San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m. CT. Memphis has a 2-0 edge in the season series. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama Lead the Way in Rout of Wizards

Jaren Jackson Jr. battles for the opening possession. (Photo: NBAE/Getty Images.)

On the second night of back-to-back games, the Memphis Grizzlies decimated the Washington Wizards without Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

With a final score of 140-112, the Grizzlies emerged from their weekend road trip 2-0.

After a hard-fought win against the Boston Celtics in which he scored a season-high 31 points, Ja Morant sat out against the Wizards with back soreness.

Expect Memphis to continue its cautionary approach to managing Morant’s injuries.

But even without two of their best players, the Grizzlies looked poised, prepared, and just plain better than their opponents, largely thanks to their incredible depth.

Scotty Pippen Jr. and Marcus Smart moved into the starting lineup, but even without them, the bench outscored the starters 76-64.

The Wizards were led on both ends of the court by a familiar face — Lithuanian big man Jonas Valančiūnas, who played for the Grizzlies from 2019-2021.

Despite Valanciunas’ 20-point, 14-rebound double-double, the Wizards had no answer for the Grizzlies. Washington held a two-point lead for a grand total of 47 seconds in the first quarter.

Memphis was led offensively by Jaren Jackson Jr., who fielded 21 points, four rebounds, and four blocks on 8 of 15 overall shooting and 3 of 8 from beyond the arc — all in a mere 16:46 minutes of playing time.  

Scotty Pippen Jr. looked right at home back in the starting lineup, delivering 14 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals on 6 of 11 shooting from the field.

Marcus Smart was similarly at ease moving from the bench unit to the starters, putting up 13 points and three rebounds while shooting 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range.

Brandon Clarke was coming off his best game of the season against the Celtics but still had a respectable showing against the Wizards. He finished the night with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Jay Huff and Santi Aldama celebrate during the game against the Washington Wizards. (Photo: NBAE/Getty Images.)

Santi Aldama was the leading scorer off the bench with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal, and three blocks while shooting 7 of 11 overall and a team-best 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Reserve center Jay Huff finished the night with 17 points and three rebounds while rookie shooting guard Cam Spencer added 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 4 of 8 shooting from the field and 2 of 4 from three-point range in his third ever NBA game.

We even got a brief appearance from Yuki Kawamura in the fourth quarter:

Who Got Next?

The next two games are recent additions to the schedule, among other teams that have also been eliminated from the NBA Cup: Friday, December 13th, at home against the Brooklyn Nets, with a 7 p.m. CST tip-off time, and Sunday, December 15th, on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 8:30 p.m. CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Jackson Jr.’s Dominant Display Downs Wizards

Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on November 8, 2024. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a season-high 39 points on 14-for-28 shooting, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a convincing 128-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

The Michigan State alum is having a phenomenal season, boasting averages of 22 points per game, 56% shooting from the field, 40% from three-point range, and a 65% true-shooting percentage.

Last season, team injuries thrust Jackson Jr. into the spotlight, sparking a remarkable growth that prepared him for this season.

“I think last year and this summer for sure,” Jackson Jr. said, on what prepared him for his performance to help the Grizzlies improve to 6-4 on the season. “Being able to read defenses better — make better decisions for the ball with higher usage, and figuring out what defenses are doing against you and kind of making the adjustment.”

“Like Tuomas (Iisalo, Grizzlies assistant coach) says, ‘Whatever the defense does, they’re wrong.’ It just means that adjustment.”

The 25-year-old says his versatility on the court comes from understanding matchups and starting strategies, but also from being adaptable. He avoids relying solely on three-pointers early on and capitalizes on open shots from his team’s offense. He Friday night, he showed his ability to read defenses and make lightning-fast decisions based on defenders’ movements, positioning, and help-side rotations.

And he really wanted that 40 piece, but the game was already out of hand.  

“For sure I definitely wanted to get it (40 points) the right way. If it ain’t meant (to be), it ain’t meant (to be).  (I) didn’t do enough. I missed a free throw. So there you go.” His career-high is 44 points. 

“Heck of a game from Trip [Jaren Jackson Jr.],” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on Jackson Jr. “Obviously, just the opportunity to be a primary playmaker, diversify his game, there were a couple pick-and-rolls stuck in there by his teammates, but just playing on the perimeter, playing out of the post, just getting that gravitational pull and still being able to finish.”

“Obviously, it was motivating going into the season, because he had had a career year on the offensive side,” Jenkins continued. “So regardless of what our lineups are, I want him to still carry that mentality of being a primary attack guy for us.”

Jenkins concluded: “And, that’s on me to make sure that he’s feeling involved and just playing within our pace and our principles. It’s great to see him have that opportunity tonight and take full advantage of it.”

Scotty Pippen Jr. made history on Friday by earning his first career triple-double, with 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-4 FT), a career-high 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. This milestone places him alongside his father, Scottie Pippen, as the first father-son duo in NBA history to record triple-doubles during their careers.

Pippen Jr. didn’t even know he had made history.  “No, I’ve never even heard of that. I would just say crazy,” he said. “I don’t know if I have any words to describe how that feels. Just making history will always be a great thing, but to be the father-son duo to do it is definitely a great thing.”

The 23-year-old wasn’t aware he was close to a triple-double until his injured teammate Ja Morant alerted him. He said, “Ja [Morant] had said something to me — he said I was two away. I don’t know if he meant rebounds, assists or what it was. I was trying to feed Jaren [Jackson Jr.] to get the last two assists, and he started missing. I knew I was going to be coming out of the game soon because he was up, so I was just trying to get my teammates together.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. was happy with Pippen Jr.’s history-making performance.

Grizzlies rookie Yuki Kawamura showed why he’s a fan favorite. When games get out of hand, the crowd in the FedExForum always chants, “We want Yuki.” When he entered the game, they were in for a treat. 

The crowd went absolutely nuts when Kawamura got his first bucket.

Kawamura breathed a sigh of relief after sinking his first 3-pointer, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had more to offer

“I was feeling so great,” he said about his first bucket. “But, I’m not satisfied yet. I could have done more, better.”

Up Next

The Grizzlies kick off a three-game West Coast road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, November 10, with an 8 p.m. tipoff.


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Sports Sports Feature

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.