Memphis Grizzlies Playbook: Latest scheduling news plus see Ja’s viral shopping trip

It feels like the pace of the offseason is starting to pick up a little bit for the Memphis Grizzlies this week.

We’ve had scheduling-related news slowly drip out from the NBA insiders the last several days and the entire schedule is set to be released today.

The Grizzlies are expected to get a big increase in nationally televised games this season, thanks to the growing star power of Ja Morant.

Let’s dive into the latest and most interesting news in this week’s Playbook.

Memphis Grizzlies 2022-23 schedule is here

The full 2022-23 schedule will be released today at 2 PM CT, according to the NBA. We already know of several key matchups and dates, which we’ve outlined here.

Reported in advance of the official release (by a variety of NBA insiders):

• First preseason game & opponent
• First regular season game & opponent
• MLK Day game opponent
• Christmas Day opponent
• All-Star Game date & host city

Stay tuned to Beale Street Bears for continuing coverage of the schedule release.

Welcome Ryan Daugherty to Beale Street Bears

I’d like to welcome our newest contributor to the site, Ryan Daugherty! Ryan is a former college basketball player and he’s passionate about the Grizzlies.

“My point of view is going to be direct when needed, comical when applicable and outlandish when thinking of the hypotheticals around the Grizzlies,” Daugherty said.

Give him a follow on Twitter at @RyanD_3 and check out his first published piece with us in which he talks about Kenneth Lofton Jr. and how he might crack the rotation as a rookie.

Ja Morant goes viral with recent shopping trip

Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant recently published a new vlog on his YouTube channel that showed him doing not one but two awesome things while he was shopping at the Atlanta-based Icebox jewelry store.

Morant noticed a couple celebrating their engagement and he invited them over to his seating area and poured them out some shots of tequila. As expected, the internet went wild and for good reason. It was a really thoughtful gesture and shows the genuine side of a kid who grew up in a small, South Carolina town.

The other instance was a really sweet moment in which the young superstar hopped on FaceTime to call his daughter and asked if she wanted a new pair of earrings while he was out shopping. His young daughter was excited and Ja held the phone around so she could pick out a set of diamond earrings.

It was another sweet moment and one that isn’t getting as much attention as the aforementioned tequila shot interaction but should be.

Morant seems like a great dad. He’s travels a ton, but still finds ways to be with his daughter and create fun memories.

The Memphis Grizzlies Playbook is a weekly column of news and commentary from our Site Expert, Jacob Ellerbee. You can follow him on Twitter @jellerbee.