Memphis Grizzlies: 5 dream opponents for a Christmas Day game

Will Memphis Grizzlies finally earn long awaited Christmas Day game?

We should be learning more about the 2022-23 NBA schedule in the coming weeks, including whether or not will the Memphis Grizzlies will be competing in one of the most coveted slots in the entire calendar: Christmas Day.

The Memphis Grizzlies have never played a game on Christmas Day. All signs point to that trend finally ending on December 25, 2022.

There are lots of extra eyeballs on the NBA product on Christmas. You have the diehard fans that put the game on the family TV, forcing everyone else in the family to tune in and watch.

The one caveat that gives me pause when thinking of the Memphis Grizzlies playing on Christmas, is that it’s unclear if Jaren Jackson Jr. will be available for a Christmas Day game or not.

The NBA wants to have as much star power as possible featured in these games that draw millions of viewers. Ja Morant probably brings enough star power on his own, but a Jackson-less Grizzlies makes them just a little bit of a milquetoast choice.

But, perhaps more so, will the Grizzlies have a good enough record for people to care about the Grizzlies in December? Jackson’s absence could have a drastically negative impact on the team’s record.

In all likelihood, Morant has enough star power to get fans to tune in for a Memphis Grizzlies Christmas Day Game in 2022.

So, let’s go through a pick out five dream opponents for this squad to compete against on one of the biggest stages of the NBA regular season.

There are two things you can count on in life: taxes and the Lakers playing on December 25 every year.

Seriously, the LA Lakers have played every Christmas Day since 1999. What better way to usher in this festive day with the old guard taking on the new guard?

You’ve got LeBron James and Anthony Davis taking on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Things were mighty chippy when these two teams played each other last season.

You also have the Ziaire Williams connection. He played with LeBron’s son, Bronny, at Sierra Canyon and has thought of LeBron James as an uncle, which will make for an intriguing storyline for fans not normally tuning in to NBA games.

Plus, who could forget Ja Morant’s unbelievable block last season against these Lakers? It was one of the best plays of the entire regular season.

The Lakers are always on TV on Christmas Day. Ja Morant is one of the league’s brightest young stars. Make it happen, Commissioner!

Memphis Grizzlies could face some familiar foes on Christmas Day 2022

The Mavericks have competed in five Christmas Day games all-time, including each of the last two seasons.

This matchup would be all about Luka Doncic and Ja Morant— do we need to say more? That’s a ton of star power and two of the best point guards in the NBA competing on Christmas Day.

Dallas owed the Memphis Grizzlies last season, winning three of their four meetings during the regular season.

The Mavericks had a really successful post-season, defeating the Utah Jazz in the first round, upsetting the Phoenix Suns in round two, and eventually falling to Golden State, the eventual champs, in the Western Conference Finals.

There was only one team in the NBA that had a better record than the Memphis Grizzlies last season and that was the Phoenix Suns.

Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton taking on Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Dillon Brooks would be a ton of fun.

Brooks will certainly work to get under the skin of both Paul and Booker. Morant will show out in front of the Point God, someone he admires immensely.

https://twitter.com/JaMorant/status/1497830052700082181?s=20&t=9U_cDabAR7SCkl5CRAj_VQ

If this matchup happens, it would probably be in Phoenix, giving the Suns some acknowledgement for having such a terrific season last year.

There would be no shortage of crazy dimes, handles, and competitiveness in this game.

Memphis Grizzlies could meet some playoff foes on Christmas Day 2022

This seems like a strong Christmas Day game option for Memphis. The Timberwolves gave the Grizzlies all they could handle in round one of the 2021 playoffs.

Plus, Kyle Anderson left the team to join these very Timberwolves this offseason, adding an extra layer of intrigue.

Minnesota has two young superstars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. Plus, they just picked up Rudy Gobert in one of the biggest blockbuster moves of the 2022 offseason.

The Wolves have only competed in two Christmas Day games all-time, competing in 2016 and 2017. The time seems right for the Wolves to get some more time in the spotlight with them starting to find their way into the mid-to-upper tier of the Western Conference.

Plus, who could forget Ja Morant’s “jaw-breaker” dunk that nearly broke the internet during Game 5 of the 2021 playoffs vs the Minnesota Timberwolves? Fans would love to see an encore from Morant on Christmas Day.

The No. 1 game that just about everyone wants to see on Christmas Day is a rematch of the 2021 Western Conference Semi-Finals.

The Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies on Christmas Day feels like a prime-time matchup that you can put on ABC and it’ll be an excellent draw for viewership.

We all remember the contentious playoff series that saw numerous technical fouls, ejections, injuries on both sides, and plenty of chatter.

These two teams will have significantly different supporting casts in 2022, but will still be able to roll out the same sort of starting lineup that we saw in the 2021 playoff series, which is what everyone wants to see.

Ja Morant vs Steph Curry, Desmond Bane vs Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins vs Dillon Brooks, (hopefully) Jaren Jackson Jr. vs Draymond Green, and Steven Adams vs Kevon Looney.

Ja Moant can do the griddy, Stephen Curry can do the night-night celebration and tempers will flare for what should be an outstanding Christmas Day matchup.