As the 2024-25 season approaches, star guard Ja Morant is in the spotlight with the Memphis Grizzlies.

“I think we can win the championship next season,” Morant said, according to Damichael Cole of Memphis News (h/t Grizzlies SZN).

Ja Morant on his expectations for the Grizzlies 2024-25 season:

“I think we can win a championship next season. Honestly, God willing, if everyone stays healthy.”

(Above: @DamichaelC)

REVENGE TOUR 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ttJEKT38Ao

— Grizzlies SZN (@Grizzlies_szn) 19 August 2024

“Honestly, God willing, if everyone stays healthy.”

Grizzlies player Ja Morant names his team’s key to winning the championship

Morant’s confidence in his team’s ability to win a championship is nothing new. After he and the Grizzlies nearly defeated Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA playoffs, he claimed his team has nothing to fear in the Western Conference.

Those remarks backfired on the Grizzlies, as the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated them in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. Perhaps even worse was the media circus that surrounded Morant during the 2022-23 season. Allegations of inappropriate behavior, typically stemming from his penchant for brandishing firearms, became so frequent that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver eventually suspended him for the first 25 games of the season. next season. As a result, Memphis’ 2023-24 season was over before it even began.

When Morant was sidelined with a shoulder injury after just nine games, the team’s fate was sealed. Just remember that the Grizzlies were 6-3 under Morant, but 27-55 on the season.

The MRI 3

Next season, Memphis will have its best roster since Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph led the Grit n Grind Grizzlies. Unfortunately, their new Big 3 is having a lot of trouble staying on the court.

Morant, an All-Star, is the team’s most valuable player. He is an incredible athlete and underrated passer with a knack for scoring at crucial moments. He has averaged at least 25 points and 6 assists per game over the past three seasons, though he has never played more than 67 games in any season.

Desmond Bane has been a revelation in Memphis and has emerged as Morant’s backup. He will continue to be considered a leading scorer, averaging at least 21 points, 4 assists and 1 steal per game over the past two seasons. The 26-year-old is especially dangerous from beyond the three-point line, which has helped him complement Morant in the backcourt. However, he has only played 100 regular-season games since 2022-23, so his durability is also questionable.

Then there’s Jaren Jackson Jr., whose scoring abilities make him more of a 2B than a third option. One of the league’s better stretch bigs, Jackson Jr. averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game last season. Even more impressive, he’s made at least 100 3s and 100 blocks in each of the last three seasons. He’s far from healthy himself, though.

It depends on yes

With the Grizzlies’ stars not exactly healthy, their depth could be crucial to making the playoffs. Marcus Smart or Derrick Rose will play behind Morant. Luke Kennard is expected to be Bane’s backup after being re-signed. If Jackson Jr. starts at power forward, Brandon Clarke could be his main backup.

The biggest drop in performance, however, is likely to be an injury to Morant. Despite his defensive prowess, Smart is a relatively limited offensive player due to his inconsistent jumping ability. At 35, Rose is still far from his physical best. So Morant is of course right to hope his team stays healthy, but his health will be the most important thing.