If the Summer League was any indication of what this year's Grizzlies team will be like, then that is definitely promising. After last year, when Memphis ended the season riddled with injuries and with far too many tally marks in the loss column, both the team and fanbase are ready for the new era to officially begin.
1. A Battle in Atlanta
On October 5th, the Grizzlies have their first preseason game in Atlanta against the Hawks. Although this is only the preseason, it is an opportunity for the whole team to share the floor. The starters may have limited minutes to decrease the chances of injuries, but it is important for both the starters and bench unit to play together and develop chemistry. This is essential for teams like Memphis, who have a new core and lots of young athletes.
The Grizzlies will be going up against a very different Hawks team. Atlanta made several significant moves during the offseason, and Memphis will get the first look. This group is now equipped with Dorian Finney-Smith, Lu Dort, and rookie Kingston Flemings. Jalen Johnson, who had a breakout season last year, is still on the roster, as well as defensive mastermind Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Onyeka Okongwu, Aaron Wiggins, and Jock Landale, who wore a Grizzlies jersey in the 2025 preseason opener.
2. Homecoming for Desmond Bane
Memphis will then play the Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and Charlotte Hornets in the remainder of its preseason games. The Orlando game is especially significant because it will be Desmond Bane’s first official homecoming since being traded back in the summer of 2025. And yes, it has taken over a year, because the last time these two teams faced off was overseas in Berlin and London.
Roster wise, the Magic kept the majority of their current pieces in place, but they do now have Nikola Vučević, who will certainly contribute to this team in meaningful ways.
3. Who is on the Bulls now?
Similar to the Grizzlies, Chicago has made so many moves since the trade deadline that it’s hard to keep track of all the changes, but nonetheless they do have quite a talented roster. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey are still on the roster, and the additions of Norman Powell, Buddy Hield, and rookie Caleb Wilson could be an extremely powerful combo for a team that’s most certainly tired of fighting for a spot in the play-in.
4. The New-Look Hornets
Much like the Grizzlies, Bulls, and Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets have made a lot of changes that everyone will need to learn before Fantasy Basketball begins. The most notable difference is of course the absence of LaMelo Ball, who is now on the Minnesota Timberwolves, although the team was focused on adding depth and building a brand new roster during the offseason as well.
Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Dennis Schroder are joining Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White, Moussa Diabate, and Brandon Miller. This is a nice mix of veteran talent and younger athletes, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Grizzlies match up with this group.
5. What will the preseason tell us?
The preseason may give the fans a glimpse into what this upcoming season will look like, but it’s also a chance for the players to build chemistry, coaches to try out different rotations, and for everybody to ultimately get back into the routines of the regular season. It’s important to compete and play hard, but it’s also the preseason, so it’s okay to experiment a little to see what works and what doesn’t. So now that the summer is over, Memphis fans, who’s ready for some Grizzlies basketball?!
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