In short, yes. The future of the NBA could go through the Memphis Grizzlies.
Taylor Jenkins’ team showed new signs of light last week with a 125-111 win over the Washington Wizards last Tuesday and a hard-fought 112-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
They ran away with the win on Tuesday after a bit of a rough start and it was a refreshing sight. They seemingly had a newfound energy, showing that they can bring the heat when they need to.
The Grizzlies brought that same energy into the game against the Bucks on Thursday, but a wild and unfortunate finish just barely kept them out of the W column that night.
Regardless of that most recent game being a loss, the intensity and drive displayed in these two games brings another glimpse of what could become the regular happenings for the Grizz. This is amplified by the fact that their young talent has recently been on display, paired with the looming return of star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ young players can compete with anyone in the NBA
Any fans who have consistently watched Jackson Jr. and second-year point guard Ja Morant should know by now that these guys are the future of the league. 21-year-old Morant once again illustrated why he’s a rising star, scoring 35 points in each of the past two games and getting a good win on Tuesday despite still not having his wingman.
JJJ has already shown what he is capable of at the age of 21, with a couple of NBA seasons already under his belt. When he returns to the hardwood, granted he’s safely and properly reintroduced, the Grizzlies will have what it takes to level up and build some momentum as the second half of the season begins.
The Memphis Grizzlies have talent beyond Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
In addition to Ja and Jaren, there are plenty of other young guys in Memphis who could break out at any moment. One player to keep an eye on is 22-year old rookie big man Xavier Tillman. He has some work to do, but averaging 7 points and 4.6 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game is not a bad start.
Also, it’s definitely helpful for Tillman that he and Jackson Jr. have been teammates before — and in a very family-like environment — back in the 2017-18 season at Michigan State. Spectators shouldn’t be surprised to see some fun moments and solid chemistry between the two of them in the future.
Shooting guards Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton, both 22, have also had some scoring success this season, averaging 9.6 and 10.1 respectively. They could both become consistent impact players, especially if they can get their teammates more and more scoring opportunities.
The young players on this Memphis squad are some of the best at what they do. This much is true. Now it’s up to coach Taylor Jenkins and his staff to use them effectively and continue to help them understand their individual roles in the scheme.
It could be a long process, but there is still a half of a season left. That’s plenty of time for Jenkins to turn his roster into a well-oiled machine… and that would potentially just be the tip of the iceberg.
If all the puzzle pieces fall into the correct places, the future of the NBA could very well reside in Memphis, Tennessee.