The Memphis Grizzlies enter the 2025-26 NBA season with the same talented core and familiar expectations, but a sharper sense of urgency. After finishing 48-34 last year and suffering a first-round sweep, the franchise is no longer defined by potential. This season is about proof — proof that this group can stay healthy, compete in a deep Western Conference, and make a meaningful playoff run.
No Easy Roads in the West
The path back to contention is as difficult as it has ever been. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are no longer a young team on the rise but a fully-formed powerhouse. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings are both ascending. Denver remains dangerous. Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State are still threats, while Houston and San Antonio are no longer easy wins.
For Memphis, that reality means the margin for error is slim. A poor start or extended absence of a key player could mean the difference between hosting a playoff series and fighting through the play-in tournament. Every stretch of games matters.
Iisalo Aims to Redefine Identity
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo, entering his first full season, is implementing a new offensive identity built on pace, spacing and ball movement. Memphis ranked near the bottom of the league in half-court efficiency last season, often relying too heavily on transition offense and isolation plays.
Iisalo’s system is designed to maximize Ja Morant’s explosiveness and Jaren Jackson Jr’s versatility while creating a more balanced scoring attack. If the roster adapts quickly, the Grizzlies could take a significant step forward offensively while utilizing its one-two punch.
Morant Faces Leadership Test
Morant remains the team’s heartbeat and one of the NBA’s most dynamic guards. When healthy, he is capable of breaking open games with his speed, creativity, and scoring. But availability has been a persistent issue, and Memphis needs its franchise player on the floor consistently.
This season will test more than Morant’s talent. It will test his leadership, maturity, and ability to elevate those around him. If he delivers on all fronts, the Grizzlies’ ceiling rises dramatically.
Jackson Must Expand Offensive Role
Jackson continues to anchor one of the league’s best defenses and is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. But with Desmond Bane now in Orlando, he will be expected to take on a greater offensive role.
The Grizzlies need Jackson to provide reliable scoring, stretch defenses, and deliver in late-game situations. If he can complement his elite defense with consistent offense, Memphis becomes far more difficult to game plan against.
Injuries Challenge Depth Early
Memphis will open the season short-handed. Guard Scotty Pippen Jr. is out indefinitely after toe surgery. Guard Ty Jerome is sidelined with a high calf sprain. Center Zach Edey, entering his second season, is recovering from off-season ankle surgery and is expected to miss the first six to nine weeks.
Forward Brandon Clarke is also working his way back from knee surgery, aiming to regain the explosiveness that once made him one of Memphis’ most reliable bench contributors. His return could give the Grizzlies a much-needed boost in energy, rebounding, and frontcourt depth as the season progresses.
Those injuries thin both the backcourt and frontcourt rotations. Second-year forward Jaylen Wells, who showed flashes of promise as a rookie, will be asked to take on more responsibility. Veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, acquired in the offseason, will provide perimeter defense and playoff experience, while forward Santi Aldama is expected to build on a breakout 2024-25 season.
Depth and Development Will Be Crucial
The Grizzlies have one of the youngest supporting casts in the West, and their development could determine how far the team goes. Wells and Aldama must produce consistently, while Edey’s and Clarke’s eventual returns will bolster frontcourt depth. Caldwell-Pope’s leadership and defensive presence should help stabilize a rotation that will need to weather early adversity.
If the bench can hold steady while the roster gets healthy, Memphis will be in position to climb the standings. If it struggles, the team risks falling behind in a competitive conference.
Defining Success
Success for the Grizzlies this season means finishing in the top six in the West, avoiding the play-in tournament and advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs. Anything less would be viewed as a step back and could force difficult questions about the direction of the roster and the Grizzlies’ front office.
With the foundation in place, can this group finally take the next step?
Beyond Promise: A Season to Prove It
The Grizzlies are no longer the scrappy underdogs or a team defined by future promise. They are a franchise expected to compete now. With a new system in place, a healthy Morant and an expanded role for Jackson, Memphis has the pieces to make noise in the West. But the conference is too competitive for missteps. The Grizzlies must grow, stay healthy, and deliver under pressure. If they do, they can take the next step toward true contention. If they don’t, the questions surrounding this core will only grow louder.