What’s good, Grizz Nation? If you are reading this, that means we finally made it to the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
We have collectively survived the most heartbreaking offseason this franchise has ever seen, marked by the tragic, unexpected death of beloved Canadian big man Brandon Clarke and the symbolic end of the GrzNxtGen era with a blockbuster trade that sent all-star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The pair of former first-round picks were meant to hail a new beginning for Memphis after the end of the Grit and Grind era; Morant and Clarke both joined the team after their selection in the 2019 NBA draft with the second and 21st overall picks, respectively.
Making the home opener for the Grizzlies against the Utah Jazz feels like adding insult to injury by the basketball gods, as fans saw the return of Jaren Jackson Jr. to FedExForum for the first time wearing another team’s jersey.
Anyhow, on to the actual basketball.
This game was a much-anticipated meeting of two of the top rookies from this summer’s draft. The Jazz selected Kansas standout Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick, just before the Grizzlies took Duke’s Cam Boozer with the third.
Peterson finished with nine points, while Boozer recorded 11 rebounds, seven points, and five assists. Boozer struggled from the field, shooting 2-for-15 overall and missing all six of his 3-point attempts.
Despite a less-than-expected performance from the rookie, the Grizzlies made short work of the Jazz — in large part thanks to guard Ty Jerome erupting for a career-high 45 points, leading all scorers, while hitting 17 of 25 shots from the floor, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc.
Jerome’s 45-point performance set a franchise record for the most points by a Grizzlies player in a season opener, surpassing Ja Morant’s 44-point effort in 2020.
Feels like the question around who will take on the role of starting point guard has been answered.
Jerami Grant contributed 15 points in his first game with Memphis, while Jaylen Wells added 12 points and matched his career high with four steals.
For Utah, former Grizzly Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks against his former team before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Which, let’s be real, is the most JJJ return game outcome ever.
With this victory, the Grizzlies improved to five wins in their last six season openers. It was also the largest margin of victory in a season opener in franchise history.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will begin a four-game road trip Friday against Golden State. Utah returns home for a five-game stretch, which includes another matchup with Memphis on October 26th.
