Two years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies The team looked to be one of the best teams in the NBA, coming off its second straight 50-win season and its young core was enticing.
However, last season injuries ravaged the Grizzlies, who went just 27-55.
Today, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder on the rise and the Dallas Mavericks boasting a deadly guard duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Memphis has been largely forgotten.
But don’t tell that to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Bontemps still has high hopes for the Grizzlies heading into next season and thinks the trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. is very impressive.
“I buy Memphis” Bontemps said on The Hoop Collective“Of course, we’ll see if Ja Morant can stay on the court. But if he can, I expect him to have a big year. Him, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are awfully good together. We haven’t seen them together in a minute, but when they’re together, they’re as good a trio as that in the league.”
Grizzlies’ success largely depends on Ja Morant
Morant was one of the most exciting players in the league a few years ago, but injuries and a series of off-field incidents have kept him out of the spotlight.
But when he’s healthy, there’s no doubt Morant is one of the best players in the NBA.
Morant exploded during the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33.1 minutes per game while shooting 49.3 percent. He made his first All-Star appearance.
The following year, Morant impressed again, averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per night while shooting 46.6 percent of his field goal attempts.
Efficiency has been an issue for Morant, as he owns a lifetime true shooting percentage of just 55.8 percent, but like Russell Westbrook before him, his explosiveness makes up for that.
Perhaps Morant’s biggest problem is his inability to stay on the field.
The 25-year-old has never played 70 games in a single season before, and while his 25-game suspension kept him out early last year, he eventually bowed out with a shoulder injury after returning for just nine games.
If Morant can stay healthy and core members like Bane and Jackson continue to improve, the Memphis Grizzlies could end up becoming contenders again in the tough Western Conference.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news and insider information? Click here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter And Facebook.
Want to read the latest NFL news and analysis? Check out our partner NFL Analytics Network.
