The Grizzlies Dilemma: What’s Next for Ja Morant and Memphis?
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant drives down the court.
When I hear the word dilemma, my mind goes to Nelly and Kelly Rowland’s 2002 hit — but this definitely isn’t that kind of situation. Memphis isn’t stuck on love; they’re just trying to find their groove again. With Ja Morant back on the floor, the focus shifts to leadership, chemistry, and climbing back into the West’s mix.
It wasn’t that long ago the Memphis Grizzlies were the NBA’s feel-good story — young, fearless, and climbing fast. Ja Morant was supposed to be the league’s next electric superstar, the face who could carry Memphis into a new era. Memphis completed back-to-back 50-win seasons, finishing as the No. 2 seed in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns. But since then, the narrative has shifted.
Two suspensions, a season ending shoulder surgery, and a coaching change later, the Grizzlies now find themselves asking hard questions. Taylor Jenkins was dismissed with nine games left last season after a year that ended in a sweep by the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. What was once a team built on energy and swagger has turned into one still trying to find its identity.
Friday night against the Lakers, something felt off. Morant’s body language told a story before the box score did. The bounce wasn’t there. The energy that once fueled viral moments seemed muted. Maybe he was fighting through an injury, maybe just a cold night, but the engagement wasn’t the same.
And when a player making nearly $40 million a year floats through possessions, fans and teammates notice. That’s the weight of superstardom. It’s not just about points; it’s about presence.
Through five games, Morant has averaged 20.8 points in 28 minutes per game — but he’s shooting 40 percent from two and only 15 percent from three. Memphis sits 3-3, hovering around league average in efficiency, and ranks among the league’s leaders in turnovers. Those numbers reflect a team that’s not fully in sync.
The Grizzlies aren’t bad, they’re just uncertain. To be fair, they’re missing four of their top guys to injuries, and that matters. But even with that context, the chemistry that once defined this group has slipped. What used to be confidence now feels like questions — about leadership, accountability, and direction.
After the Lakers loss, a Morant told reporters, “Go ask the coaching staff,” when asked what went wrong. He added, “According to them, probably don’t play me.” Whether frustration or sarcasm, that moment captured what feels like an uneasy dynamic between player and staff.
For a franchise that once shouted “We here,” it now feels like everyone’s trying to figure out where here actually is.
No one denies Morant’s talent. He’s a generational athlete who plays with electricity few can match. But with that gift comes responsibility — to elevate, to lead, to be the standard. Memphis invested $40 million a year not just in highlights, but in culture.
If the Grizzlies can’t find alignment soon, both sides may need to explore what’s best for Ja, for the team, and for the city that once believed it had the future of the league in its hands.
Because right now, the Grizzlies don’t just need wins. They need clarity.
