MEMPHIS – There was never really anything “off” about the Grizzlies’ offseason.
The work to develop, strategize, reset, heal and grow from a disappointing and injury-riddled season continued the moment they exited the court after the final buzzer at home last April.
“We’ll learn from this, put it behind us and get right back to work,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said at the time. “Can’t wait to get back in that gym and get ready for a whole different outcome next season. We still know the kind of team we’re capable of being in this league.”
The Grizzlies’ mission to rebound from a 27-55 season and make a healthy return to being one of the Western Conference’s top contenders remains intact. Now, the schedule is in place for that quest to commence.
The NBA’s composite schedule was released Thursday, with the Grizzlies set to open the 2024-25 regular season with a two-game road trip Oct. 23 at Utah and Oct. 25 at Houston. The Grizzlies then make their home debut at FedExForum on Oct. 26 against Orlando.
The Grizzlies will open training camp Oct. 1 in Nashville, where they will spend three days preparing for the season as ongoing renovations continue at FedExForum. Three of their five preseason games will be on the road, with the exhibition opener Oct. 7 at Dallas and the first home tune-up three nights later on Oct. 10 against the Hornets.
Anticipation is high for the upcoming season, with franchise catalyst and two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant recovered from season-ending shoulder surgery. He fortifies a core that includes Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart and the No. 9 overall lottery pick from June’s NBA Draft in rookie center Zach Edey, the two-time NCAA national player of the year from Purdue.
“We’ve got crazy competitors on this team, just watching and learning how they play,” Edey said earlier this summer of his initial impressions of the Grizzlies. “We have so many great players, I just want to learn how to play around them and get better. The great thing is I can just come in and play the way that I play. I can go inside, rebound, mix it up and try to be a physical presence inside. That’s exactly what they want me to do, and also work to grow my game.”
With Morant thriving as one of the NBA’s top stars, Memphis posted consecutive 50-win seasons and twice notched the second-best record in the West. Last season, the electrifying point guard was limited to nine games due to a league suspension and shoulder surgery.
With Morant cleared last month to resume basketball activities and set to enter training camp in full health, Jenkins is encouraged about seeing the key pieces come together from the start.
“He’s poured into his body, working on his strength,” Jenkins said recently of Morant ramping up workouts. “It was a difficult season, with him only getting nine games on the floor out there. But he was so connected throughout with his teammates. It’s hard when basketball is taken away from you. But he grew up a lot, despite the challenges with the injury. He’s attacked the offseason, and now he’s cleared. It’s full-throttle, no restrictions on basketball development.”
As the Grizzlies prepare for Morant’s return, Edey’s debut and a push back into contention in the West, here’s my schedule-release look at ‘5 Can’t Miss Home Games’ of the 2024-25 season.
Oct. 26: Magic at Grizzlies
Fans only got three chances at home last season to watch Morant, Jackson Jr., Bane and Smart play together. Chalk it up to a historic season of misfortune, in which the Grizzlies led the NBA by a wide margin with 564 total games missed to player injuries. This year’s home opener isn’t about the matchup. It’s about the moment, one of the most anticipated in team history. Add a new draft class led by Edey and a revamped coaching staff to the Grizzlies’ new beginnings.
Nov. 19: Nuggets at Grizzlies
Two nights earlier, the Grizzlies face Nikola Jokic in just a normal regular season game in Memphis. When they return for their second matchup in three nights, FedExForum will be transformed. The NBA invests tons in the marketing of the In-Season Tournament, now called the Emirates Cup. The Grizzlies are always at the forefront in innovative alternate uniforms and court designs. You get shiny new things to see, plus an encore matchup with the reigning MVP.
Dec. 19: Warriors at Grizzlies
The first of two visits from Steph Curry, Draymond Green and the still entertainingly annoying Golden State Warriors comes exactly a week before Christmas. Grizzlies’ fans would want nothing more than the gift of knocking off and silencing one of their recent nemeses. Neither team made the playoffs last season, and both are gunning to regain their respect and status as serious contenders in the ultra-competitive West. Morant vs Curry is always must-watch magic.
Jan. 20: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
Regardless of the opponent, the magnitude of an NBA showcase game in Memphis on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day resonates beyond sports. This matchup against emerging star Anthony Edwards and his T’Wolves team that tied for the best record in the West last season culminates a weekend of community service, reflection and unity across the league. Expect another dose of entertainment, engagement and enlightenment for what would have been King’s 95th birthday.
Mar. 31: Celtics at Grizzlies
The defending champs are the measuring stick for every NBA team that believes they’re a title contender. The Grizzlies fashion themselves as such. The Celtics make their lone visit to Memphis in the middle of the toughest homestand of the season. Two nights earlier, LeBron’s Lakers are in town. And the night after the Celtics depart, the Warriors make their second and final trip to Memphis. Consider this the marquee tilt in a legendary 3-game stretch at FedExForum.