Grizzlies May Be West’s Biggest Mystery

Where do the Memphis Grizzlies fit in? That’s the question ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

In a Western Conference that features the likes of the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and much more, the Grizzlies aren’t often mentioned as a contender.

And you can’t blame the prognosticators.

Memphis was decimated by injuries right from the start of last season. They first lost center Steven Adams for the year to a knee injury (he was eventually traded to the Houston Rockets). And star guard Ja Morant was already serving a suspension. He returned to appear in just nine games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery.

So the Grizzlies struggled their way to a 27-55 record and a totally lost season. That came one year after finishing 51-31 and earning the No. 2 seed in the West playoffs.

Now, a lot has changed since then. Dillon Brooks signed with the Rockets in free agency. Adams was traded. College player of the year Zach Edey was drafted. Memphis is built differently than the team that won 51.

But they still feature the likes of power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., shooting guard Desmond Bane and coach Taylor Jenkins. And they are getting back their engine in Morant, who’s always been good enough alone to keep the Grizzlies in contention. Others such as Marcus Smart, GG Jackson (when healthy) and Luke Kennard are also expected to be contributors.

If you add it all up, with Morant, you would certainly think the Grizzlies could be in the mix. It’s just in their injury-plagued year, the rest of the West got a lot better.

Will they be good? Will they be average? Will they finally be blessed with some good fortune?

All are fair questions for a team that’s flying under the radar, but could end up being a factor.