The NBA released the 2023-24 regular-season schedule on Thursday, August 17, with the Memphis Grizzlies only getting 13 nationally televised games on either ESPN or TNT, plus six on NBA TV.
That’s way below their record 19 games on national TV and 10 NBA TV games last season.
But without franchise cornerstone, Ja Morant, who will be suspended without pay during their first 25 games, the NBA deemed the Grizzlies are not as appealing as last year.
But fret not Grizzlies fans, as there are plenty of big games, especially those played at FedExForum, to look forward to.
What home games should be considered “can’t miss” affairs for Grizzlies fans?
Here are the five key home games you should mark on your calendar.
5. October 25, 2023 vs New Orleans (Opening Night)
Even without Morant to open the season, the Grizzlies are confident they can tread the murky waters with the arrival of two key veterans.
On opening night, they will usher in a new era with a new veteran leader in Marcus Smart, the former heart and soul of the Boston Celtics.
On top of his defensive toughness, the 28-year-old guard will bring leadership and stability that was lacking last year when they folded in the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Derrick Rose will also mark his return to his old stomping ground. He was a revered Memphis hero during his lone NCAA season with the Tigers.
These two are essentially replacing Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones in the Grizzlies rotation. But with Morant out, Smart is expected to start at the one with Rose backing him up.
All eyes will be on these two new key additions on this night against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are hoping to parade a healthy and motivated Zion Williamson.
4. November 19, 2023 vs Boston Celtics
It will be an emotional night for Smart, who spent his first nine seasons playing for the historic Celtics organization.
While he publicly said there are no hard feelings towards his former team, Smart’s initial reaction to the trade was a dead giveaway that he was blindsided.
"“It was a shock,” Smart said via The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn. “My agent called my fiancée and she woke me up out of sleep, literally, right after the deal had been made, and I think [the media] had already tweeted it out. That’s how we found out.”"
What makes things all the more polarizing about his exit is that he was told a week before the trade that he was “safe.”
"“We was expecting [to stay],” Smart said. “But for me, I understand the business side of it. Anybody who knows me knows that I’m the first one to tell people, you can’t put personal with business, it just doesn’t mix. And if you do, you’re going to get yourself hurt. I understand it’s a business.” “But for me, it was just the courtesy. They probably already knew they were thinking about trading me. They had this trade in their back pocket just in case something else didn’t happen. And for me, it’s just the simple fact, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about trading you, most likely we’ll trade you, just letting you know.'”"
With this all in mind, one should expect fireworks during this emotional reunion.
3. December 15, 2023 vs Houston Rockets
How will the FedExForum crowd react to Dillon Brooks’ first game back as an opponent?
Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 20, 2023
And Brooks had plenty more to say. pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ
The wing’s tough persona backfired for the Grizzlies in the playoffs after “poking the bear,” which happened to be LeBron James, in their first-round loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. That factored heavily into the team’s decision not to bring Brooks back, ending his six-year stint with the franchise.
"“We’re going to take a different approach as it pertains to [trash talk] next season,” Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman said during the team’s exit interviews. “You’ll see a different approach from this team, but at the same time, confidence is important. … There’s a line there, certainly.”"
Despite Brooks’ uneven playoff performance and becoming essentially the scapegoat, he landed a four-year deal worth $80 million with the Houston Rockets.
After his bitter parting of ways with the organization, will Brooks bring in the heat and talk trash to his former team?
He’s already hyping up his new team as a younger version of the Grizzlies.
"“It was a good new start for me,” Brooks said during the NBA Summer League. “Being with young guys, trying to change the narrative of the team, I like challenges. I felt that as well, them having [Ime] Udoka there, he could help me grow as a ball player and as a person.” “I feel like it’s exactly the same team from 3-4 years ago. Jalen is like Ja Morant. Jabari is like Jaren. Young guys that can expand their games to be the best in the league.”"
2. December 21, 2023 vs Indiana Pacers
This is the most anticipated home game this year — Ja Morant’s season home debut.
Morant will have already played one game on the road at New Orleans (December 19) by the time he plays for the first time at FedExForum this season. That makes playing against Zion Williamson his warmup for his much-anticipated homecoming.
Nothing beats the feeling of playing at home in front of the Grizzlies fans for Morant, who averages 23.0 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 124 games at home in his career.
It will also be an exciting matchup between Morant and Tyrese Haliburton, who both love pushing the pace.
Morant averaged 8.1 assists to Haliburton’s 10.4 last season.
The Pacers and the Grizzlies were the top two in fastbreak points in 2022-23. The two teams were only separated by the slimmest margin, with the Pacers averaging 18.1 fastbreak points and the Grizzlies finishing the regular season with 18.0 per game.
Expect slams and posters from Morant and Indiana’s new high-flyer Obi Toppin, whom they acquired from the New York Knicks this offseason via trade.
The Smart-Bennedict Mathurin matchup will also be equally exciting.
Buckle up!
1. March 27, 2023 vs Los Angeles Lakers
This will be the season’s third meeting between the Grizzlies and the Lakers, two emerging rivals in the Western Conference after their heated playoff battle last season.
But this will be the Lakers’ first visit to FedEx Forum in the regular season during this span.
No, there’s no more Dillon Brooks to “poke the bear,” but there will be no love lost between Smart and James, who had their own personal battles in the Eastern Conference with their previous teams like this one:
On top of that, it will also be an important game this deep into the season with teams jockeying for playoff positioning.
And also, we don’t know how much longer James will be playing in the NBA. The 38-year-old superstar will be entering his 21st season in the association, which will make him match legend Dirk Nowitzki as the longest-tenured player in league history.
However, despite this incredible accomplishment, the jury’s still out on when he’ll opt to call it a career, as he’s still playing at a truly elite level.
Against the Grizzlies in particular, he averages 25.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 43 career games and,
So, catch him play live whenever you can and, for Grizzlies fans, March 27 should certainly be seen as a “must-watch.”
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