NBA should be ashamed for disrespecting Memphis Grizzlies

Last week, the NBA officially released the full 82-game schedule for the Memphis Grizzlies, and while the franchise may be coming into the 2024-25 campaign with a lot of hype attatched to them, it appears the league didn't feel it was enough to show them the respect that they deserve.

With every passing season, each team across the association receives a certain number of nationally televised games on their docket.

The more buzzed-about clubs generally receive a higher number of such outings (ex. the Los Angeles Lakers lead the league with 39 nationwide broadcasts) while the lesser squads see much fewer (ex. The Detroit Pistons have just four).

Despite the excitement among Grind City nation and, frankly, many others residing outside the community, the Grizzlies only find themselves in the middle of the pack as far as widespread airings are concerned.

NBA should be ashamed for major disrespect to Memphis Grizzlies

As things currently stand, Memphis is projected to take part in a total of 17 national TV games (ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV) this coming season, ranking them 14 out of all 30 clubs.

What's quite peculiar about this allotment is that it's the same number they received this time last year when coming into a 2023-24 season that was already slated to be rather challenging, as cornerstone Ja Morant was slammed with a 25-game suspension to start the year as a result of off-court antics.

With him, along with several other key members such as Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Marcus Smart, all slated to be coming in at full-strength, coupled with the redemption narrative (won just 27 games in 2024-25) and the intrigue of this aforementioned core joining forces with promising youngsters like GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and projected rookie sensation Zach Edey, you'd think their number of broadcasts would have gone up, not remained the same.

What makes matters even more troubling is the fact that when focusing solely on their ESPN, ABC, and TNT-hosted outings in other words, what many consider to be true national broadcasts), their number plummets to a mere nine games, dropping them to 16 on the league's rankings list.

It seems the NBA has forgotten that not two seasons ago the Grizzlies were viewed as the up-and-coming "it" team out in the Western Conference -- one that had a superstar guard, a reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and a budding young stud leading the charge for a squad that was fresh off a 56-win season and wrapped up 2022-23 with 51.

Memphis is hungry to reestablish itself as one of the game's elite units, and even Morant himself is already sending warning signals to the rest of the association as he works his way back to 100 percent.

Yet, despite this buzz-worthy storyline, it's evident that the NBA still doesn't view the Grizzlies as a "must-watch" franchise in 2024-25, but, for some reason, a the highly underwhelming, failed "superteam" in the Phoenix Suns (received 30 nationally broadcast games and a Christmas Day slot) are seen in such a light?

Memphis is only bound to make them regret their TV schedule decision-making as the season comes underway, but, even with months separating now and then, the league should certainly be feeling ashamed of their actions.