A year ago, the Memphis Grizzlies had championship aspirations with Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, and Desmond Bane. But after a steady season was derailed due to injuries and off-court antics, the Grizz lost some ground that they were never able to recover.
The response so far has been swift from the Grizzlies, who waved goodbye to Dillon Brooks this summer after announcing their intentions to let him go. To say the feelings are mixed in Memphis would be an understatement but Ja Morant did break the silence with a short and simple message of appreciation for his former teammate.
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 9, 2023
As much heat as Brooks got toward the end of last season, he was still a valuable member of the Grizzlies for his defensive prowess that helped give them an identity as one of the best defensive teams in basketball.
For Ja, it must be tough to see him go (even if he’s being replaced by someone better) but there is no doubt that it’s the right call to make given the need for a culture change in the locker room.
Can The Grizzlies Become Legitimate Contenders Next Season?
Talent has never been the problem for Memphis, but it’s clear from their actions and behavior that they need to grow up as men before they can hope to achieve anything of worth in the NBA.
As Jaren Jackson Jr. recently explained, getting humbled in the playoffs this past year might be what they needed to unlock the next level to their game.
“I think getting humbled was the best thing for us,” said the Grizzlies star. “I think it’s gonna make us way more hungry like we were three years ago when there was no expectation on anything. We got leveled at the end of the year. So, we gotta sit with that all summer. We were done in May. We’re gonna have that edge, we’re gonna come back, we’re gonna be hungry… We’re gonna get it done.”
Of course, when it comes to the Grizzlies, everything begins and ends with Ja Morant. If he can stay focused and keep himself out of trouble, the Grizzlies may be able to pull off something special in the near future.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
