Grizzly Grades: Memphis Grizzlies’ 2019-20 NBA Season
By AJ Salah
Organizational Culture
The Grizzlies absolutely smashed this one out of the park, breaking a window in an adjacent condo.
After the Chris Wallace era ended in a lackluster fizzle, Memphis’ turnaround under new management could not possibly have been faster or more dramatic.
Starting at the top, Zach Kleiman, all of 31 years old, is looking like a front-office prodigy. He’s set a blueprint for a small-market rebuild, laying a very solid first-year foundation even outside of being gifted Morant.
Taylor Jenkins grows another branch to the Popovich-Budenholzer coaching tree. Knowing his roster, he instilled a drastically different system from what Memphis was used to, letting his youngsters run. As a rookie, he was a dark-horse Coach of the Year candidate.
Memphis’ loaded young core are all quality-character guys who appear (from our seats) to have a strong rapport. The chemistry issues that splintered the pre-Anthony Davis Lakers should be a non-issue.
And as an added bonus, the Grizzlies were a cool team to like, resonating on a national level. Outside of their 2011 8-vs-1 upset of the Spurs, that may have never been true of this franchise before.
With the future brighter than ever, and the past still paying homage, this was a banner year for the Memphis Grizzlies. They made all the right moves.