The Memphis Grizzlies' current situation is a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the NBA. Just a few seasons ago, they were one of the league’s most exciting young teams-brash, confident, and built around the electric talent of Ja Morant. Fast forward to now, and the franchise finds itself teetering on the edge of a full-blown identity crisis, with Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly very much in question.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Grizzlies still had playoff hopes. Trading away Desmond Bane, a key piece of their core, raised eyebrows, but the organization believed that with Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge, they could still make noise in the West.
That belief hasn’t translated into success on the court. The Grizzlies are currently clinging to the 10th seed, and the cracks are starting to show-not just in the standings, but in the locker room.
Tensions boiled over recently in Berlin, where the Grizzlies were set to face the Orlando Magic. Ahead of the game, video surfaced of a heated exchange between Morant and teammate Vince Williams Jr.
It was the kind of moment that speaks volumes-visible frustration between teammates, caught on camera, in a season where things already feel off-kilter. Three years ago, this kind of public friction would’ve been unthinkable for a group that once prided itself on chemistry and swagger.
Former NBA champion Paul Pierce weighed in on the situation, pointing to a key turning point in the Grizzlies’ culture: the departure of Dillon Brooks. Speaking on the No Fouls Given podcast, Pierce didn’t mince words.
“I think their culture started to have chinks in the armor when you traded [Dillon] Brooks,” he said. “I felt like he brought the culture there.”
It’s a sentiment that’s gaining traction. Say what you will about Brooks-his shot selection, his bravado-but he was undeniably a tone-setter.
When the Grizzlies moved on from him after a disappointing playoff exit in 2023, it was seen as a necessary reset. But in hindsight, it may have been a foundational shift the team didn’t fully anticipate.
Since leaving Memphis, Brooks has had stints with the Houston Rockets and now the Phoenix Suns, and in both places, he’s continued to bring that same edge. Love him or hate him, he brings identity-and that’s something Memphis seems to be missing right now.
Draymond Green echoed Pierce’s take but pointed to a broader unraveling. For Green, the real tipping point came after Brooks left-when head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired and Desmond Bane was traded.
“I think the last straw was Taylor Griffin and [Desmond Bane] going,” Green said. “Once Taylor got fired and Dez was gone, [Morant is] like, ‘Alright, my time is up. I really hope something happens.’”
Whether or not Morant has mentally checked out is speculation, but the signs are hard to ignore. The team looks disconnected, the leadership void is palpable, and the cohesion that once made Memphis so dangerous has eroded.
This isn’t the version of the Grizzlies anyone expected to see after their meteoric rise just a few years ago. But that’s the NBA-momentum can vanish overnight, and dynasties can dissolve before they even begin.
If Morant does end up moving on, it may be the best path forward for both sides. For Memphis, it’s a chance to hit reset and rebuild a new identity.
For Morant, it could be the fresh start he needs to rediscover the joy and dominance that once made him one of the league’s brightest stars.
One thing’s for sure: the Grizzlies are at a crossroads. And how they navigate this moment will shape the franchise for years to come.