Grizzlies Schedule: Ja's return and 3 other must-watch dates

The Memphis Grizzlies are gearing up for the 2024-25 NBA Season with revenge on their mind.

After an injury-riddled 82-game stretch that saw the likes of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane all suffer from health-related issues, this core is looking to show that 2023-24 was a mere gap year, and that, when intact, they still have the potential to rattle off 50-plus wins and contend for a top seed in the Western Conference as they did during their previous two campaigns.

Thursday afternoon, the NBA officially announced the regular season schedule for all 30 teams in the association, and, in doing so, revealed that Memphis' quest for redemption will officially come underway on October 23.

Considering he's already claiming to be roughly 75 percent back to full health after undergoing successful shoulder surgery in January, many expect that this matchup against the Utah Jazz will mark his official return to meaningful on-court action after what will be a 10-month absence.

Of course, while this will certainly be seen as a must-watch event on the docket for the Grizzlies, there are plenty of other dates that deserve a similar amount of attention during what is hoped to be a highly entertaining and inspiring six-month regular season.

Key dates on 2024-25 NBA Schedule Grizzlies fans must be aware of

Opening nights against Utah

October 11, 2024

Are the Utah Jazz one of the high-profile opponents fans may have wished to see on opening night? Not exactly, no.

Still, October 11 is deemed a must-watch date because of the sheer fact that the Grizzlies are playing, not because of who they're going up against.

For the first time in quite a long time, fans can see Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. take to the floor together, while also being accompanied by a returning Marcus Smart and the likes of promising young bucks such as GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr.

On top of all this, it will be the first time Zach Edey will be eligible to log minutes in an NBA regular season game, and we all remember how well he faired the last time he went up against Utah and their assortment of bigs in Walker Kessler and fellow rookie, Kyle Filipowski.

To say fans will be overflowing with excitement as they await to see this revamped and presumably healthy squad take to the floor would be an understatement.

A dance with the Thunder

December 29, 2024

Not too long ago, Memphis was seen as the promising, up-and-coming club in the Western Conference that was seemingly on the verge of taking the league by storm and becoming one of its next great teams.

Unfortunately, due to the harrowing events that unfolded in 2023-24 that saw a bruised and battered Grizzlies team come across a mere 27 wins and finish on the outside looking in on a playoff spot for the first time in four years, it seems many have cast them aside when it comes to this luscious status and, in their place, the OKC Thunder swooped on in.

In many ways, Oklahoma City boasts the same mold and allure that Memphis did, especially during the two seasons heading into last, as they are both headlined by a superstar lead guard (Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), a promising two-way big man (Jaren Jackson Jr. and Chet Holmgren), rising young studs (Desmond Bane and Jalen Williams), and a slew of quality cost-efficient talents (GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and Luke Kennard for the Grizzlies and Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace for OKC).

On top of all this, it appears the Thunder have also seemingly stolen a brand of swagger that once was synonymous with Grind City (anyone else kind of bothered by their carbon copy post-game interview antics?).

Now expected to have a fully healthy roster entering the season, Taylor Jenkins' squad is likely looking to remind people that they arrived before OKC did and wish to prove that they can still hang with the conference's new "top dogs."

Rivalry day with the Dubs

November 15, 2024

Not only is this matchup against a hated foe in the Golden State Warriors, but it will come under the bright lights of the Emirates NBA Cup 2024, their first game of the tournament to be exact.

Dating back to their hard-fought Western Conference Semifinal bout back in 2022, the Dubs and Grizzlies have created one of the game's most electric and energetic rivalries of the modern era.

Even last season, despite Memphis being completely inundated with injuries and essentially serving as a cellar dweller during the vast majority of the campaign, throughout each of their three showdowns fans were rewarded with impressive efforts and heated exchanges galore.

From GG Jackson dropping 23 points en route to a surprise 116-107 win in front of a raucous crowd out at FedEx Forum to Draymond Green's trash-talking that led to the emptying of both benches and coach Taylor Jenkins even hitting the deck, over the years these teams have shown that whenever they get together its as close to must-see TV as you can get.

Because of this, November 15 is a date that should already be marked off on the calendar.

A home-court date with the reigning champion Celtics

March 31, 2025

After winding up with the seventh-worst record in the entire association just a season after recording the fifth-best (51-31), in 2024-25 the Grizzlies are expected to be looking to prove that, despite what 2023-24 may have suggested, they are still a legitimate threat to contend for the Larry O'Brien Trophy when at full strength.

One way for them to do this is by giving the defending champion Boston Celtics a run for their money.

This year, they'll have two opportunities to square off against the top-dog C's, though March 31 will be a date where they'll be able to do so in front of what one can only expect to be a sold-out home stadium filled with the Grind City faithful.

Last we saw these two play one another the Celtics destroyed them by a whopping 40 points, though this was played without the likes of Morant, Bane, Jackson, or Smart in the mix.

With all four slated to be back in the fold, you better believe the Grizzlies will be looking to make an example of the reigning champs in front of their home crowd.