The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to look like a team that’s found its footing-and maybe even a little swagger-after a rocky start to the season. For the first time this year, they’ve strung together three straight wins and have now taken five of their last six.
That lone loss? A competitive 125-115 battle with the defending champion Denver Nuggets, where rookie big man Zach Edey logged less than six minutes before exiting with a migraine.
Since then, Edey’s been a force. The 7-foot-4 center is not just holding his own-he’s dominating.
Since returning to the lineup, he’s averaging 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting a blistering 67.2% from the field. And during this three-game win streak?
He’s taken it up another level: 19.3 points, 17 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks a night on 72% shooting. That’s not just efficiency-that’s imposing your will on both ends of the floor.
Edey’s presence has been contagious. The ripple effect is showing up across the roster.
Jaylen Wells, who struggled early in the year, has snapped out of his shooting funk. Over the last six games, he’s averaging 16.2 points while hitting over 54% from the field and a scorching 50% from beyond the arc.
That’s the kind of spacing Memphis desperately needed.
With Ja Morant sidelined, Vince Williams Jr. has stepped into the point guard role and done more than just steady the ship-he’s steering it. In the seven games he’s started, he’s dishing out 9.4 assists per game, showing a poise and vision that’s helped unlock the offense.
And then there’s Cam Spencer, who’s been quietly lethal. Over the last five games, he’s pouring in 14.4 points a night while shooting an absurd 61% from three.
That’s not a hot streak-that’s a flamethrower.
But this turnaround isn’t just about individual stat lines. The Grizzlies are finally starting to click in head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s system.
The offense has more flow, more spacing, and more purpose. Drivers like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cedric Coward are finding cleaner lanes to the rim, and the ball movement has taken a noticeable leap.
It’s not perfect, but it’s progress-and it’s producing results.
Defensively, Memphis is turning a corner too. Over the last six games, they rank fifth in the league in opponents’ points per game (109.8) and sixth in defensive rating (110.0).
That’s not just better-it’s elite. And it’s happening because the team is playing connected basketball on that end.
Rotations are sharper, help defense is more timely, and Edey’s rim protection is giving perimeter defenders more freedom to press up on their assignments.
The Good Vibes Are Back
A month ago, the Grizzlies were in a very different place. That nationally televised game against the Lakers-where Ja Morant reportedly “quit” in the second half-sparked a storm of controversy.
The fallout included a heated exchange between Morant and Iisalo and a one-game suspension for the star guard. Rumors about a potential Morant trade started swirling.
The team was losing, the locker room seemed fractured, and fans were already peeking at lottery projections.
Fast forward to now, and the mood couldn’t be more different. Morant, though still out with injury, is fully engaged.
He’s on the bench, locked in, talking with coaches, encouraging teammates-essentially acting as an assistant coach. That kind of leadership matters, especially for a young team trying to find its identity.
The fire is back too. During a recent game against the Mavericks, things got chippy between Klay Thompson and Santi Aldama, with Morant jumping in postgame to back up his teammate.
That edge, that togetherness-it’s starting to feel familiar. The walk-off interview hijinks are back too, reminiscent of the fun-loving, tightly bonded 2021-22 Grizzlies squad.
That version of Memphis didn’t just win games-they made you feel something.
And perhaps most importantly, this team is showing real fight. In recent wins over the Clippers and Pelicans, Memphis came back from deficits of 16 and 17 points, respectively.
A month ago, those games might’ve turned into blowout losses. Instead, they battled back and closed strong.
Their latest win against the Kings was far from clean-23 turnovers and 25 points allowed off those giveaways-but they still walked away with an eight-point victory. That’s the kind of gritty, grind-it-out win that defined the "Grit N Grind" era.
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective. That DNA seems to be resurfacing, whether by design or by necessity.
At 9-12, the Grizzlies now sit ninth in the Western Conference. It’s not where they want to be long-term, but considering where they were just a few weeks ago, it’s a significant step forward. And with a favorable schedule ahead, there’s real opportunity to build on this momentum.
The bottom line? The energy has shifted.
The vibes are back. And the Grizzlies are starting to look like a team that remembers who they are.