Mavs Rival Watch: Comeback Season for Ja Morant’s Grizzlies?

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season with a reinforced, championship-worthy roster, it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s going on around them, especially in the daunted Western Conference.

More specifically, the reigning West champs will have tougher competition within the Southwest Division if all five teams stay relatively healthy.

The San Antonio Spurs will surely be more competitive with Victor Wembanyama’s continued development and an infusion of veteran leadership with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. The Houston Rockets are young and scrappy. The New Orleans Pelicans have proven to be a force in the West if Zion Williamson is able to stay on the floor.

Out of all the Mavs’ Southwest Division foes, though, the Memphis Grizzlies might end up being the toughest. The Grizzlies’ 2023-24 season was marred by several injuries and Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension to start the year. Just one year after winning 51 games and being the No. 2 seed in the West, Memphis won just 27 games last season and missed the postseason.

Related: BREAKING: Mavs to Open Season In Primetime Showdown

In addition to Morant being fully healthy again, the Grizzlies added 7-4 rookie center Zach Edey with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Edey helped Purdue win the national championship last season while averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Normally, it takes centers a while to become acclimated to the NBA, but as we saw firsthand with Mavs’ Dereck Lively II last season, there are sometimes exceptions to that rule.

Memphis’ roster isn’t quite as deep and talented as Dallas is on paper, but with a handful of weapons like Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Luka Kennard, GG Jackson II, Marcus Smart, Derrick Rose, and others, the Grizzlies shouldn’t be overlooked. A comeback season for Memphis is probable.