Intriguing action and storylines emerge in 2026-27 Grizzlies season
MEMPHIS – New core. New supporting cast. New vibe.
But one thing remains the same as the retooled Grizzlies take aim on the 2026-27 NBA season: a commitment to hard work, development and building a foundation to win.
“We are going to be physically tough, and we are going to be tough-minded,” Grizzlies president of basketball operations and general manager Zach Kleiman insisted. “This is about the work and a focus on winning. I couldn’t be more excited about pushing this forward with guys we have the utmost confidence in pushing us in that direction.”
That’s essentially the vision statement the Grizzlies will carry into a new season built around a younger core and a deeper roster under second-year coach Tuomas Iisalo. Expect growing pains as well as encouraging gains to be made by Memphis throughout the 2026-27 NBA season.
With the full schedule now released, now’s the time to mark your calendars for the most important games of the season.
A new era is upon us, Grizz fans, with rookie first-round picks Cam Boozer and Karim Lopez joining recent First-Team NBA All-Rookie contributors Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward. The roster is also sprinkled with productive mid-career veterans in Ty Jerome and new free-agent addition Isaiah Stewart to help fight through a daunting Western Conference slate.
Last season’s historic conference campaign saw the upstart San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama catapult from 13th place in the standings the previous season to Western Conference champs and NBA Finalists this past season.
Improvement can happen quickly. There have been both key changes and significant growth this offseason as Memphis looks to take the next step in its journey.
Hence, every game is a vital opportunity.
Here’s my annual look at 5 Can’t Miss Grizzlies home games as we set our schedule priorities.
Oct. 21: Jazz at Grizzlies
Can’t ask for a better launch of a new era than this season’s home opener. First, it’s the passing of the power forward torch when former Grizz big man and two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. returns to FedExForum to face the Grizzlies following last February’s trade. That position he vacated is now occupied by No. 3 overall pick Cam Boozer, who looks to build on a breakout NBA Summer League stint when he makes his Memphis debut. It’s also a matchup of top-three picks in June’s draft, with No. 2 selection Darryn Peterson and Boozer facing off.
Dec. 29: Spurs at Grizzlies
Victor Wembanyama’s first of two regular-season visits to FedExForum comes during the holiday season and literally will be a reminder of the tall task the Grizzlies face as they fight through the West. Just the spectacle of the 7-foot-5 Wemby facing the 7-4 Zach Edey in the center matchup is a gift that won’t stop giving as long as two of the NBA’s most dynamic young big men are healthy. The Spurs are coming off a miraculous run to the NBA Finals as one of the youngest teams in NBA history to reach that pinnacle. The Grizzlies are hoping to build in a similar way.
Jan. 18: Rockets at Grizzlies
The first place many look when the Grizzlies schedule gets released is to find the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Game. After a one-year hiatus last season when the Grizzlies answered the league’s call to play in the NBA Europe Games on this day in 2026, the MLK Game is back on the slate in Memphis this season. Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant and the Rockets visit FedExForum as part of the nationally broadcast game that will showcase the remarkable work and service the Grizzlies and Memphis continue to prioritize in honoring MLK’s legacy.
Feb. 3: Sixers at Grizzlies
The team that made the biggest splash this offseason in loading up for a ‘title-or-bust’ campaign will make its barnstorming stop in Memphis a week before the trade deadline. Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and the supercharged Sixers are sure to bring the spotlight. And count on the Grizzlies to embrace the intensity and opportunity that accompany this matchup. It’s the marquee game in a thrilling month of February at FedExForum that also includes visits from Ja Morant’s Blazers, Desmond Bane’s Magic and the defending champion Knicks leading into the All-Star Break.
March 25: Bulls at Grizzlies
It’s wayyyy too lofty praise at this point. But the Cam Boozer-Caleb Wilson fledgling rivalry has potential to develop into the modern version of Tim Duncan-Kevin Garnett. Not only are Duncan and Garnett Hall of Famers, but they are also two of the top-five greatest power forwards to ever play the game. If Boozer and Wilson can get halfway to that status, collectively, it would be a remarkable set of careers. The No. 3 and No. 4 lottery picks teased us in Vegas with the best showdown in all of summer league. Expect more of the same now that games actually count.
