When thinking of NBA contenders, there are a few teams that usually come to mind such as the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, and even the New York Knicks. However, it seems as if the Memphis Grizzlies have slipped everyone’s mind, with the absence of Ja Morant for the majority of last season. Now with Morant being healthy and the acquisition of their new 7-foot-4 center, Zach Edey, the Grizzlies are looking dangerous.
Above the Rim But Under the Radar: A Look at the 2024-25 Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant is Back
With Morant consistently back on the floor, things are going to look a lot different in Memphis. In the nine games that Morant played last season, he averaged 25.1 points and 8.1 assists a game. He also recorded 5.6 rebounds an outing to compliment his offensive game. In the 2022-23 season, Morant averaged 26.2 points per game, right before he dealt with his suspension. The high-flying guard has the full package when it comes to skill sets, but his issues seem to lie with staying on the court. With Morant back in the lineup, hopefully, he can finally play a full season, as he is yet to finish a season with over 70 games played.
Dealing with multiple suspensions and a season-ending injury the Grizzlies quickly fell to the bottom of the rankings, but with the 9th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies drafted Purdue Center, Zach Edey.
Big Man on Campus
Edey absolutely dominated the college basketball scene, averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He also showed that he can knock down his free throws, shooting 71.1%.
With the combination of Morant’s elite passing, and Edey’s ability to run the pick and roll, the big man will be getting some very easy looks from his point guard. On the defensive end, having Jaren Jackson Jr., former defensive player of the year, paired up with Edey, teams will have a very hard time getting good looks in the paint. Along with the veteran defensive guard, Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies will be a tough team to score on. Edey seems to compliment everyone on the Grizzlies roster well, as last season showed promise in many of their youngsters.
Young Supporting Cast
During their roller-coaster of a season in 2023-24, a few players stepped up in Morant’s absence.
Desmond Bane proved his worth to the organization, averaging 23.7 points per game shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc. The second year guard, Vince Williams Jr. showed tremendous improvement from his rookie year. averaging 10 points per game on 37.8% from deep. They even acquired a very talented rookie in GG Jackson II, who averaged 14.6 points per game.
Here’s What Needs to Happen
The Grizzlies are looking as good as ever with their new and improved team, but a lot still needs to fall into place for this team to contend. After struggling to stay on the court, Morant is entering the prime years of his career and has no time to waste. He also needs to get his three-point shot more consistent, as he is shooting just 31.8% from deep in his career. Getting a more consistent shot from downtown will open up the game for not only himself but his teammates.
Zach Edey absolutely tore it up at Purdue, but the NBA is a different beast. While still having a size advantage against the majority of his opponents, Edey will still have to develop his game in order to succeed at the NBA level. At the collegiate level, Edey didn’t need to facilitate the ball due to his sheer dominance. Only averaging two assists a game in his senior year, the big man still shot 62.3%. At the NBA level, Edey will need to learn to kick out more, as he has many viable options in three-point shooters, in Luke Kennard, Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson II, and incoming rookie Cam Spencer.
The Grizzlies have flown under the radar during this offseason, and the Grizzlies are trying to prove that narrative wrong. It seems as though people have forgotten about Ja Morant’s capabilities. With Morant back on the floor, their new prodigy in Edey, along with their deep roster, the Grizzlies are looking to make some noise this NBA season.
