After spending last season in the Western Conference bunker, the Memphis Grizzlies are poised for a major comeback year. According to NBA analyst Richard Jefferson, Ja Morant’s return this upcoming season will put the Grizzlies on par with the best teams in the West.
“[The Grizzlies] were the [OKC Thunder] two seasons ago,” said Jefferson on ESPN. “Obviously, there’s been injuries. There’s been a lot of things that have gone on… But don’t forget who Ja Morant is.”
Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the new kids on the blocks, winning 57 games and securing the first seed in the West while being led by 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder were unable to advance past the second round of the playoffs but they will be among the favorites to come out of the West next season.
Just a few years ago, the Grizzlies were in a similar position. In the 2021-22 campaign, they finished 2nd in the West with 56 wins thanks to Ja Morant, who was in his second season at the time. They also had Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, and Desmond Bane to fill out the team’s star-studded core.
The Grizzlies were on track to take over the West before Morant fell into a string of controversies. After being exposed for his threats of violence, and flashing a gun on Instagram Live, Morant was suspended for 25 games, and by the time he started the 2023-24 campaign, the Grizzlies were already hopelessly behind in the standings at 6-19.
Last season came and went without any chance of the Grizzlies making a playoff run and even Ja himself was prohibited from action after suffering a mid-season injury. In the meantime, focus in the West shifted to other teams, like the Mavericks, Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves, who most fans have as the current leaders in the West.
Going into next season, however, the Grizzlies should not be counted out in the upcoming title chase. With Morant at full strength and having moved on from his earlier antics, he could be in store for his best season yet. If Ja can match or even exceed his output from the 2021-22 season when he averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting, it could be enough to lead the Grizzlies back to a top-three spot in the Conference.
Defensive juggernaut Jaren Jackson Jr., who turns 25 this month, is due to take a leap this season and he could be in play to take home his second Defensive Player of the Year award in three years. He and defensive backcourt star Marcus Smart will elevate the Grizzlies’ defense and allow them to keep up with the NBA’s most elite teams.
In a Conference that is already loaded with deep and talented teams, the Grizzlies have to prove that they can still compete for a top spot in the West before anyone gives them the benefit of the doubt. More than anyone, the pressure falls on Ja Morant to make the Grizzies contenders again but it will take more than him alone for them to make some serious noise in the postseason.
For what it’s worth, Richard Jefferson is a believer in this team and he hasn’t forgotten where they were just a few years ago. If the Grizzlies can recapture that magic and stay healthy for the entirety of this upcoming season, it’ll prove Jefferson right and cement the Grizzlies’ superior status in the West for years to come.
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