4 Grizzlies ranked in NBA Elite 100 for the 2024-25 season
With the new NBA regular season just weeks away, many polls and rankings are being published to prepare the fans for what's to come. One ranking, in particular, has caught the eye of many as the Action Network published their NBA Elite 100 for the top 100 players ranking from 1 to 100 entering the new NBA season.
This list included the Memphis Grizzlies players that would be expected to be ranked on a list of that caliber. The rankings of these players were also in favorable spots relative to what they have done in the past, and what their expectations are moving forward. Here is an outline of where each player was ranked with the reasoning behind it.
17. Ja Morant
It could be argued that Ja Morant should have been ranked higher in this list and for good reasoning. However, the NBA is a "what have you done for me lately" league and Ja has been unavailable more than he has been available in the past two seasons. The world knows what Ja is capable of when he is fully healthy and it was displayed in the nine games he played last season.
Also, considering Ja Morant was ranked ahead of a player like Devin Booker (18th), means he is probably in the group range that he was supposed to be. Of the 16 players ranked ahead of Ja Morant in this poll, the most notable is Tyrese Haliburton, who was ranked sixth. Haliburton is coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance but he was ranked ahead of several players, including Ja Morant, that would be considered very questionable.
42. Desmond Bane
The biggest gripe about Desmond Bane's ranking could be that he was the second highest ranked player on the team (one spot ahead of Jaren Jackson Jr.). However, Bane has been the Grizzles' second leading scorer for the past three seasons behind Ja and has taken a firm grasp of being the second option on the offensive end of the floor.
Bane's impact on a Grizzlies team that can struggle to shoot and score at times is massive because he is one of the best players on the team in those two areas (if not the best). Notable players that were ranked ahead of Bane in this ranking that could be argued were Cade Cunningham (41), Alperen Sengun (40), Jalen Williams (39), and Derrick White (37).
43. Jaren Jackson Jr.
This feels a little low for Jaren Jackson Jr. considering he is arguably the second best player on the Grizzlies, but he is in that conversation with the aforementioned Desmond Bane. It makes sense that these players are this close in an NBA ranking because they both can trade places on the pecking order behind Ja Morant on any given night.
Some may give the edge to Jaren Jackson Jr because of his defensive acumen and he isn't too far off Bane on the offensive end. However, their impact is almost one in the same, and the fact that they are ranked this close is a good problem for a team that considers themselves to have a "big three."
98. Marcus Smart
Coming off a season in which he only played 20 games, Marcus Smart being included on this list is a testament to the work he's done that made him a former Defensive Player of the Year recipient. Smart's defensive versatility to allow him to guard nearly anybody on the court is remarkable and a thing that can help take this Grizzlies team to the next level.
There are a couple of players ranked right above him that could be considered lesser players (96. Mitchell Robinson and 97. Jose Alvarado) but that's why the games are played on the court. Again, the best ability is availability and that is what Smart will need to do to be considered higher on these rankings.