The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to look like a team that’s finally found its footing. After a rough start to the season - one that included a brutal stretch of nine losses in ten games - Memphis has now won five of its last six, including a 115-107 road win over the Sacramento Kings on November 30. And while none of those victories have come against teams with winning records, the momentum is real, and the process behind it is even more encouraging.
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo has emphasized that it’s not just about the final score - it’s about how they’re getting there. And lately, the Grizzlies are playing with a renewed sense of energy, purpose, and cohesion. That’s been especially evident on both ends of the floor, where returning players and improved performances from key contributors are starting to reshape the season.
Zach Edey’s Emergence: Big Man, Bigger Impact
Let’s start with the obvious: Zach Edey is changing the game for Memphis.
The 7-foot-4 center has been a force since making his season debut on November 15, and his performance against Sacramento was his best yet. Edey dropped a career-high 32 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and swatted five shots - a stat line that puts him in rare company.
Only Zach Randolph and Pau Gasol have ever posted at least 30 points, 15 boards, and three blocks in a single game for the Grizzlies. That’s elite territory.
What’s more telling is how the game shifted when Edey was on the court. Memphis looked in complete control with him anchoring the paint.
When he sat, the Kings clawed back from deficits of nine and thirteen points. Edey finished with a +25 in just 29 minutes, and the Grizzlies are now 5-3 since his return from offseason ankle surgery.
His presence isn’t just boosting the box score - it’s stabilizing the team’s identity. He’s giving them a reliable interior presence on both ends, and the confidence around him is growing fast.
Role Players Finding Their Rhythm
One of the biggest issues early in the season was inconsistency from Memphis’ supporting cast. But that narrative is starting to shift, and the Sacramento game highlighted just how far things have come.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who had been moved to the bench in search of better lineup balance, is starting to look more comfortable in his role. He chipped in 13 points and hit a pair of threes, providing the kind of veteran spark this team needs in second-unit minutes.
Jaylen Wells, who had been mired in a shooting slump, also stepped up with 15 points and three triples. His confidence is clearly trending in the right direction, and that’s a big development for a team that needs reliable floor spacing.
And let’s not overlook Cam Spencer. The rookie continues to prove he belongs, adding 16 points and knocking down four threes. His ability to stretch the floor and make timely plays has quietly become a key part of Memphis’ recent success.
Even Santi Aldama, whose streak of 14 straight games in double figures ended with just seven points, has been one of the most consistent contributors throughout this stretch. The depth is starting to show, and the Grizzlies are benefiting from a more balanced attack.
Jaren Jackson Jr. Closes the Show
Jaren Jackson Jr. hasn’t had the dominant season many expected, but he’s showing signs of stepping into a bigger role when it matters most - the fourth quarter.
Against the Kings, Jackson finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists. But it was his play down the stretch that stood out. After being a minus-7 through the first three quarters, he flipped the switch in the fourth, scoring six points and posting a +15 in the final frame.
Memphis has needed a go-to option in crunch time, and Jackson is starting to embrace that responsibility. His ability to create his own shot, draw contact, and make smart decisions late in games is becoming a difference-maker.
The Bigger Picture
At 9-12, the Grizzlies still have work to do, but this recent stretch has injected some much-needed optimism into the season. The return of Zach Edey has been a game-changer, and the improved play from role players like Caldwell-Pope, Wells, and Spencer is giving Memphis the kind of depth it lacked early on.
Most importantly, the team is playing with renewed energy and purpose. They’re defending better, moving the ball more effectively, and showing signs of becoming the team many hoped they’d be coming into the season.
It’s still early, but if this is the version of the Grizzlies that shows up moving forward, they might just be getting started.