The Grizzlies have gained confidence recently, evolving into a significantly more complete and cohesive-looking team than they were at the beginning of the season. It has taken time for players to settle into their roles and build chemistry with the pieces available amid the team’s ongoing injury situation; however, the starters and supporting cast have done an excellent job playing team basketball lately.
Instead of relying on a single player to put up big numbers every night, more people are stepping up and making meaningful contributions. Even though this has not always translated to a win, it is promising for the team and fanbase alike.
Starting with the starters
Jaylen Wells is back at it
Jaylen Wells appears to be back to his usual ways. Last season, Wells was consistently in the Rookie of the Year conversation. However, it all came to an unfortunate end when he suffered a season-ending injury on the road against the Charlotte Hornets. Despite a bit of a slower start, it seems like Wells has found his groove again. He has shown time and time again that he can shoot very accurately from the three-point line, get points in the paint, and is one of the team’s most reliable defenders.
Recently, against a very good Denver Nuggets team, Wells had 22 points, shooting just over 61% on field goals and 50% from downtown. He also had five rebounds (three defensive and two offensive) and one steal, so his contributions went well beyond what he was able to accomplish on the scoreboard.
Then in New Orleans, he shot nearly 82% from the field and 83% from three-point range, making a total of five three-pointers. In addition to 25 points, he recorded one block and one steal, helping the Grizzlies get a much-needed win in overtime on the road.
Zach Edey is a force
Zach Edey has delivered an immediate two-way impact with several impressive offensive performances, all while being an anchor on defense with his shot blocking and rebounding abilities. When Edey was out at the beginning of the season, the Grizzlies relied heavily on Jock Landale for rebounding, but they also discovered the backup big man could shoot a very accurate three-pointer.
That said, Edey’s return has done nothing but elevate the team so far. Since his return on November 15th in Cleveland, the Grizzlies have won six out of their last ten games. He helped Memphis snap an almost two-year California losing streak with a win over the Clippers in Los Angeles, then carried the momentum northward to Sacramento, where he had an outstanding performance. Against the Kings, Edey recorded a career-high 32 points, shooting 80% from the field, along with 17 rebounds and five blocks.
Huge contributions from the bench
Cam Spencer doing Cam Spencer things
Since being drafted in 2024, Cam Spencer has quickly become a key dual-threat player for the Grizzlies and has started the season very strongly. Spencer has played a lot of valuable minutes for the Grizzlies’ G-League team, the Memphis Hustle, as he was on a two-way contract during his rookie year. However, over the summer, Spencer and the Grizzlies agreed to a four-year, $10.5 million deal, so he is now regularly in the team’s rotation.
Lately, Spencer’s three-point shooting has reached a whole new level. He has been lighting it up from beyond the arc, placing him near the top of the NBA in three-point accuracy at the start of December. In the same game where Zach Edey recorded his career high in points, Spencer shot four out of five from three-point territory and 60% from the field.
During the most recent matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, he shot three 3-pointers, while also recording seven assists and one steal. He is certainly establishing himself as a versatile force off the bench and doing a wonderful job at filling in the gaps for this very short-handed basketball team.
Vince Williams Jr. doing a little bit of everything
Vince Williams Jr. has showcased his basketball IQ by finding his teammates and putting them in positions to capitalize on the offensive end. Though he doesn’t always put up the largest numbers in the scoring column, he continues to demonstrate the value of a playmaker by helping the team in numerous other ways.
Williams Jr.’s ability to assist is a very valuable skill set that the Grizzlies have been able to leverage in several of their recent games. During the same trip to New Orleans, where Jaylen Wells couldn’t stop getting buckets, Williams Jr. had a career-high 17 assists. He also had seven assists against the Nuggets, seven assists against the Kings, and seven assists in Memphis’ most recent matchup with the Spurs. He added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in San Antonio as well, helping the Grizzlies stay afloat during their fourth straight road game.
The power of teamwork
The Grizzlies have put themselves in a great position to completely change the trajectory of their season. This recent stretch of games demonstrates why wins are not always reliant on a single player carrying the team, but rather the collective effort from both the starters and the bench unit. It’s important that the Grizzlies keep leveraging their depth and trust in one another, as this will help them win more games and sustain forward progress.