Extra Article: Building the Memphis Grizzlies all 2020s starting Lineup

If you can believe it the Grizzlies have already completed 60% of their seasons primarily played in the 2020s decade! This decade has treated us relatively well with 4 playoff appearances, a series win, a Ja ROTY and MIP, a JJJ DPOY, and too many Ja Morant poster dunks to count. With the decade being over halfway done, I am gonna make the starting lineup of individual Grizzlies Players’ seasons.

Starting Point Guard: 2022-23 Ja Morant 

C’mon I couldn’t have not picked Ja. His ‘23 campaign stands out as his best for many reasons. He averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. He got to the line at a career-high rate of 8.1 free throw attempts per game, showing just how relentless he was attacking the rim. Morant also improved his playmaking, posting the highest assist percentage (39.3%) of his career while reducing his turnover percentage from the previous season. He was in total control of the Grizzlies’ offense, leading them to 51 wins and the No. 2 seed in the West, all while being the focal point of every opponent’s scouting report. His ability to collapse defenses, finish in traffic, and create for others made him one of the league’s most dynamic point guards. Statistically and stylistically, this was peak Ja: a franchise star who truly looked ready to lead Memphis on a deep playoff run.

Starting Shooting Guard: 2023-24 Desmond Bane

Although not a banner year whatsoever, Desmond Bane came to play in 2024, and it is the reason he is making the money he is in Orlando. The Grizzlies faced the most injuries a team has ever faced in NBA history in 2024 and Bane was tasked with carrying all of the free agents the Grizzlies had to play. Despite missing time himself, Bane still managed to average a career-high 23.7 points, along with 5.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game on 45.6% shooting from the field. His usage rate jumped to 28.3%, showing how much of the offensive burden he had to shoulder. He remained a lethal shooter, hitting 38.1% from three on over 8 attempts per game, and maintained an elite 61.1% true shooting percentage despite facing the opponent's best defender every night. With Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and nearly every rotation piece missing huge chunks of the year, Bane was the lone offensive constant. His improved playmaking out of pick-and-rolls, midrange craft, and ability to generate clean looks for himself and others made him the heartbeat of an otherwise depleted roster.

Starting Small Forward: 2021-22 Dillon Brooks

Next up we have the trash talking defensive specialist who Grizzlies fans might not want to admit is a legend: Dillon Brooks. In the 2021–22 season, Brooks brought his signature edge on both ends of the court, playing a crucial role on a Grizzlies team that finished with 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the West. Despite being limited to 32 games due to injury, he posted a career-high 18.4 points per game, along with 2.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds, while shouldering a 29.6% usage rate, second only to Ja Morant. His shot selection could be frustrating at times, but he consistently took and made difficult shots in big moments. Defensively, Brooks was the tone-setter. He routinely guarded the opposing team's best perimeter scorer and held them below their averages, posting a 108.2 defensive rating when on the floor. He ranked in the top tier of wings in deflections per game and was known for his physicality and ability to deny dribble penetration. Brooks’ ability to get under opponents' skin became his brand, but it was also a vital part of Memphis’ identity: gritty, tough, and fearless. Love him or hate him, the 2021–22 season showed why he was indispensable to the Grizzlies’ rise.

Starting Power Forward: 2022-23 Jaren Jackson Jr.

Next we have the Unicorn, Trip, JJJ in his trademark season. The 2022–23 campaign was the full realization of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s two-way potential, as he captured the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award while also being named to his first All-Star Game. He averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game, despite playing just 28.4 minutes per night. His 9.7% block rate was one of the highest ever for a player with his minutes load, and his defensive impact was undeniable, the Grizzlies posted a 109.0 defensive rating with him on the court, one of the best in the league. Offensively, JJJ expanded his game with improved post play and pick-and-pop versatility, shooting 50.6% from the field and 35.5% from three on solid volume. His ability to stretch the floor allowed Memphis to operate with great spacing, while his athleticism and timing made him a nightmare as a help defender. He finished the season with 194 total blocks, and his combination of rim protection, switchability, and improved discipline on fouls elevated Memphis’ defense to one of the league’s best. In every way, this was peak Jaren: the modern big man prototype who anchored a contender on both ends.

Starting Center: 2020-21 Jonas Valančiūnas 

Rounding out the lineup is the big man from Lithuania, the bruising double-double machine: Jonas Valančiūnas. The 2020–21 season was easily his best as a Grizzly, where he averaged a career-high 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while shooting an elite 59.2% from the field. He ranked third in the NBA in total rebounds (823) and second in offensive rebounds per game (4.1), making him a relentless force on the glass and a second-chance creator for Memphis. Valančiūnas also tallied 49 double-doubles, the fifth-most in the entire league that season, and had 15 games with 15+ rebounds, consistently controlling the paint. His old-school interior game provided a strong contrast to the pace-and-space modern style, but it worked. His touch around the rim, patience in the post, and ability to finish through contact gave Memphis a reliable scoring option down low. Defensively, he held opponents to 53.3% shooting at the rim, a solid mark given his lack of elite mobility. While he wasn’t a flashy rim protector like JJJ, his sheer physicality and positioning made him a dependable anchor. This was the year Jonas put it all together and proved he could be a focal point on a playoff-caliber team.

Conclusion

Seeing dudes like Steven Adams and young Jaylen Wells left off was tough, but were cuts that had to be made. Who did we leave off? Let us know.