Lesson Learned: How the Grizzlies are navigating this year's injuries

With the NBA's 2024-2025 season fully underway and teams shaking off the rust from the summer hiatus, clubs are using early season games to mix and match potential lineups to handle different scenarios on the offensive and defensive end.

The Memphis Grizzlies, currently 7-4, are one such team looking to solidify potential different lineups to handle the challenges that come their way.

After last year's dreadful campaign which saw a record-breaking number of different starting lineups, the Grizzlies yet again find themselves looking for fulfillment deep from their bench unit as starters find themselves missing time.

Within the chaos, head coach Taylor Jenkins and the coaching staff have handled it remarkably well as they try to keep Memphis firmly in the win column.

Despite the string of injuries, a silver lining has been found in the surge of contributions from the rookies and bench staples amid the essential need for minutes to be filled.

Impressive Rookie Play

Amidst the uncertainty the Grizzlies have faced due to games missed by team pillars including Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, who have only played five games a piece, Memphis has had to lean more heavily on rookies Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey.

After playing only two games during the summer league, there were early concerns that Edey's durability could come into question and threaten the team's frontcourt presence.

However, Edey has played in every game thus far with a reasonable minute balance for the rookie. Memphis has been able to maximize his offensive and defensive impact early on in the season, including an impressive showing against the Brooklyn Nets.

Edey has so far maintained a steady flow on minutes alongside the deep, young Grizzlies frontcourt which is teeming with energy, and further galvanized by his fellow rookie teammate Jaylen Wells.

While there was a presumptive high standard set for the former Purdue big man, Wells joining the club ended up being far more impactful already than most would have estimated.

Wells, who has played in every game this season and started in six, has been putting up commendable numbers in an average of 25.8 minutes per game, filling valuable minutes for the team.

As a club that relies heavily on the energy and athleticism their young core provides, the former 39th overall pick perfectly captures said energy and turns it into efficient and savvy basketball even for a rookie.

Although the sample size remains small early in the season, Wells has shown tremendous promise and has kept the team afloat and competitive as team staples remain sidelined game to game.

Wells adds not only another dimension to the Grizzlies' gritty and team defense but yet another offensive threat beyond the arc. This was perfectly encapsulated during an impressive showing against the Lakers which saw the Grizzlies come away with the win.

Tempering expectations early for rookies still finding their footing is a reasonable ask, and yet Memphis seems to have found two young studs who not only fit in exceptionally well but are capable of rising to the occasion.

With the Grizzlies beginning to build momentum behind their rookies, the true backbone of the team amidst injury woes has undoubtedly been bench players who have stepped up significantly in the absence of key starters.

Strong Bench Support

With proper respect being given to the Grizzlies' outstanding rookies, arguably the other quintessential piece of the puzzle working in the club's favor is the rise of the young bench unit that has stepped in and stepped up.

With a plethora of players missing time, including four members of the starting lineup (Morant, Smart, Jackson Jr., and Bane), there was a strong need for players usually relegated to the bench to fill in for important minutes and keep the Grizzlies competitive in the brutal Western Conference.

Spearheading this campaign are several frontcourt names who began to take major steps forward during last season's disaster campaign. Players such as Jake LaRavia and Santi Aldama have proven capable of holding their own as part of a bench unit plus acting as major contributors when tasked with major minutes.

LaRavia and Aldama have played in each of the Grizzlies' games thus far this season, with the latter even earning a starting spot in nine games. Although their actual play time may not be as prevalent when injured players return, expect highlight-level plays on both ends of the floor.

Among the bench unit standouts, arguably the most crucial thus far this season in the backcourt has been Scottie Pippen Jr., who has found himself averaging 25.5 minutes per game and has played every game while starting in two.

With Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane all missing time this season, the Grizzlies needed a pass-minded guard to help run the offense smoothly with thetheir array of offensive weapons.

After signing a two-way contract initially in January and receiving a regular contract in October, Pippen Jr. has proved himself to be a valuable asset in maintaining team synergy while their primary offensive orchestrators remain sidelined.

This was on full display during the Grizzlies' game against the Washington Wizards during which Pippen Jr. had a triple-double and spent the majority of the game conducting the offense masterfully.

As yet another rising young player for the Memphis club, the former G League standout fits in perfectly alongside the flourishing young core and within the team that prides itself on effort and tenacity on the court.

With the Grizzlies set to play several key Western Conference opponents in the coming weeks, many will be hopeful that essential starters will find their way back into the lineup.

However, Memphis fans should not despair as even with the uncertainty around the health of the starters, the young core has proved themselves as not only ready physically for the game but prepared mentally to step directly into the spotlight and lead the team forward.