How the Grizzlies Fell Apart Overnight
Just a few years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies looked like the next powerhouse in the Western Conference.
They had a superstar in Ja Morant, an elite scorer in Desmond Bane, and a Defensive Player of the Year in Jaren Jackson Jr.. In 2022, Memphis won 56 games and finished with the second-best record in the NBA.
It felt like the beginning of a new dynasty.
But just a few years later, that core has completely fallen apart.
So what happened?
In this video, we break down the entire rise and fall of the Memphis Grizzlies, from the end of the Memphis Grizzlies Grit and Grind era, to the arrival of Ja Morant, their explosive 56-win season, the playoff battles with the Golden State Warriors, and the series of injuries, controversies, and trades that changed the future of the franchise.
From contender… to rebuilding again.
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45 Comments
Also 100% should have included Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward, and GG Jackson at the end. Don’t know how I forgot to mention them.
Overconfident for literally no reason. These youngsters just don’t get it lol
I miss this everyday man 💔
You probably didn’t mention injuries enough, we’ve had the most injuries in the past 3 years by far, the gun incident and the brooks incident didn’t help, but the main thing against the lakers was that both of our centers were injured. Failed to mention that we were second in the west for the majority of last year before more injuries emerged and the margin between 8 and 3 seeds was 3 games. It would have been nice to mention more injuries for the 2026 season.
Life comes at you fast. Ja gonna have to write a book to recoup some lost funds. It would be a prize winner. Or do tours talking about how choices and going down the wrong path can mess it up for everyone!
That is one long night
Hey mate, the argentinian youtuber Juanposite just plagiarized this entire video. Think you should know it
okc are what we thought the grizzlies were gonna be
ja was on top of the basketball world in 2022 it’s crazy to see the downfall
That night at Shotgun Willie’s changed everything
Ja morant suspensions and injuries. Boom done.
So you just not gonna mention we had our G league center going up against AD in the Lakers series because Adams and Clarke were hurt??
That’s for leaving Vancouver!
Ja Morant needs to be traded at the end of the season. He is way too much of a liability for this team. The Grizzlies need to do a complete rebuild. I still believe that the Grizzlies need to be in the Eastern Conference. Too many good teams in the West.
For young men like Ja, it’s difficult to break away from their gang upbringing. The rules of the street is different from the NBA.
This organization was good 3 different times. And each time they traded or got rid of the players that actually made a difference. Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay, Dillon Brooks. They cant help but to destroy a good team.
Ja Morant: "we fine in the west"
Narrator: "they were, in fact, not fine in the west"
Music to my ears 😂 Hope it continues to go down
Losers don't trashtalk to ringers like Lebron. Big mouth Brooks is now out of the picture licking his broken hand. Hope he learned his lesson.
Putting your eggs in a criminal lowlife thugs basket is never a good idea.
overnight huh?
Shareef Abdur Rahim does not like this
Ja like a burned marshmallow.. hard and black on the outside, but soft n white on the inside .
trust me, what they needed the most is fine leadership from Penny Hardaway
It all started with that wannabe thug Ja!
They doing 30 for 30 already? lol
This could've been 10sec… The answer is Ja
One of the biggest problem with Memphis was they thought they were entitled to be the next dynasty. That mindset shows up in how you act and your work ethic and eventually how you play. That’s why they lost to the Lakers and that was the beginning of the end
They just being grizzlies…that's on y'all for expecting a lot lol
Dillon Brooks was the culture. Trading him away killed said culture.
Anyhoo outstanding video!!!
DUH…. Ja Morant is 100% the reason!
The start of the decline was when Adam's got hurt, no more screens for Ja to attack off or easy three's off screens, no more offensive rebounding. Adam's took the load off JJJ to the point where he was the best blocker in the NBA at the time they went from the best at second chance points to not relevant the best offensive rebounding team to not relevant a top 5 defensive team to not relevant.
Ja got hurt more because Adam's wasn't there opening up the lane for him.
The same thing is happening in Houston. No, Adam's everyone has to work that much harder.
Big respect Stevo, you are missed at Griz nation. I hope you recover well
Ja's playstyle didn't grow. He became the Tayshaun Prince of Deron Williams.
The Kings also fell off a cliff this decade
Morant is trash. Dump him and rebuild
ja morant is really the goat. he did a great job to bring his team down, that’s a rare thing to do 😂😂😂🤪
Ja burat
Dont worry, Ja is fine with the west 😂😅
It's just sad. Every time my team plays ik we're picking up a fat L. No matter the opponent. It's bad, real bad.
Great video. 🤝🏼
Losing Dillon The Villain's toughness was costly. He's been a GODSEND for my Suns in Phoenix.
How is this shiii important?? Bro it disgust me how the top 26 players ESPN put out like Americans are noooooooo where in tht list
Just weird how good OKC became
Believing in Morant was the fatal blow. Should've traded him 2 years ago
Michael volume needs to be louder. Add a little inflection. And ill still watch either way