The Memphis Grizzlies are limping through one of their toughest stretches of the season. A 3-8 record in January has them slipping further out of the Western Conference play-in picture, now sitting 2.5 games behind the 10th-seeded Clippers. Combine that with a battered roster and the unforgiving grind of the West, and it’s clear: the Grizzlies are trending in the wrong direction.
This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go. Not long ago, Memphis was the league’s darling-a young, fearless squad with the swagger to match their rising talent.
But now, whispers of a potential teardown are growing louder. With trade rumors swirling around cornerstone stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., it’s not out of the question that the Grizzlies could pivot toward a reset.
And just when things couldn’t feel much worse for Grizzlies fans, Jayson Tatum added a little extra sting.
During a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Tatum opened up about the pressure that comes with wearing Celtics green. He spoke candidly about the expectations in Boston-how legends of the past return to remind the current roster that banners and rings are the standard. But it was his comparison to Memphis that really turned heads.
“Let’s be honest,” Tatum said. “The career I have right now-if I had it with the Grizzlies, I would have a statue outside the arena right now.”
That quote traveled fast-and it hit a nerve in Memphis.
Tatum’s point wasn’t lost in translation. He was highlighting the difference in expectations between a storied franchise like Boston and a smaller-market team like Memphis. And while the delivery may have felt like a jab, there’s some hard truth buried in there.
Since relocating to Memphis, the Grizzlies have made the playoffs 14 times in 24 seasons. That’s nothing to scoff at for a franchise still carving out its identity.
But the one thing that’s eluded them? A championship.
Their deepest run came in 2013, when the Grit-and-Grind Grizzlies powered their way to the Western Conference Finals-only to be swept by the Spurs.
This current era, led by Morant and Jackson Jr., sparked real hope. In 2022, they pushed to the second round before falling to the eventual champion Warriors.
But since then, it’s been a rocky road-injuries, suspensions, and inconsistency have stalled the momentum. And now, with the team slipping in the standings and the future uncertain, it’s fair to wonder if this chapter is nearing its end.
Tatum’s connection to Memphis adds another layer to the story. He spent time in the city as a kid, playing for the Memphis War Eagles and visiting during summers. So while his comments may sting, they didn’t come from a place of total detachment.
And he’s not wrong about one thing: if a player were to bring a title to Memphis, they wouldn’t just get a statue-they’d become a legend. This city is hungry for a championship, and the first star to deliver it will be etched into Memphis history forever.