The Grizzlies are entering this upcoming season with yet another difficult injury situation. With five rotation players currently set to miss the opener, the NBA will likely grant the Grizzlies a hardship exception after the first three games. It will be a difficult injury situation for the Grizzlies to navigate; however, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both available for the season opener for the first time since 2021.
Due to injuries and changes to the offense, last season was uneven for Ja Morant. However, Ja Morant had a strong finish to the season and showed the dominance he is still capable of. With Tuomas Iisalo bringing back more pick-and-roll, Ja Morant should be much more comfortable running the offense.
Previously winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023, Jaren Jackson Jr.'s main strength has been on defense, but his recent offensive surge in the last two seasons has made him one of the most dangerous two-way players in the NBA. Having his All-NBA defensive level and scoring ability can help the Grizzlies stay afloat amidst the injuries.
They must stay healthy to give the Grizzlies a chance to compete
The last time the Grizzlies won a playoff series was during the 2021-22 NBA season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. While many factors can explain the Grizzlies' lack of postseason success since then, injuries have continued to haunt the Grizzlies. Although the Grizzlies decided to retool this offseason, they should remain competitive if Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are consistently available.
Despite Jaren Jackson Jr. meeting the 65-game threshold for NBA awards last season, he missed a key stretch in March during the team's post-All-Star break collapse. Ja Morant also missed 32 games due to multiple injuries. The Grizzlies will need Morant and Jackson Jr. to be healthy during the current injury crisis and late in the season, as the race for seeding intensifies.
A priority for Tuomas Iisalo in his first full season as the head coach will be for Morant and Jackson Jr. to play well together at the same time. Ja Morant had a strong end to last season, but Jaren Jackson Jr. could not regain his previous best following his return from his ankle injury and the coaching change. Morant and Jackson Jr. both have valuable qualities, but Iisalo must find a way for them to coexist more effectively.
Previously, the two-seed in the Western Conference on New Year's Day, the Grizzlies had an epic collapse that eventually led to the firing of Taylor Jenkins. The team eventually made the difficult decision over the summer to trade fan favorite Desmond Bane. Even with this summer's retool and a new injury crisis, the fate of the Grizzlies' new season will fall on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who will both be entering their primes very soon.