The Memphis Grizzlies are third in the Western Conference and currently on a six-game win streak.
There’s no question Ja Morant is the centerpiece of the Grizzlies’ roster and the engine that makes everything go. If the Grizzlies want to make a potentially deep playoff run, they need their star floor general to be healthy and at his best. Morant has dealt with bumps and bruises throughout the season, but the team has found a way to perform at a high level even when the high-flying guard isn’t on the court.
Since the beginning of January and ahead of Monday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, the Grizzlies have gone 8-4 and have posted a .667 winning percentage, the seventh-best mark in The Association, even though Morant has been available for only seven contests in that stretch.
Memphis has gone 6-1 when Morant is available and 2-3 when he’s not, but when looking at the broad scheme of things, the performances have still been competitive even when Morant is not around. They’ve won their last two games when Morant is out, and they haven’t been particularly close — a 140-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 17 and a 139-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 24.
Under this scenario, it’s fair to wonder which players have been stepping up for the Grizzlies in recent weeks. It’s not just one player doing the heavy lifting but a team effort. A few players stand out based on their performances in recent weeks, though.
The first name that comes to mind is Luke Kennard. The sharpshooting veteran has started in the last two games where Morant hasn’t been available and has yielded impressive results, posting 17 points against San Antonio and a season-high 27 points in the win over the Pelicans. Kennard is averaging 13 points per game since the beginning of January and is shooting an impressive, albeit tough to sustain, 55% from 3-point range. Kennard has been one of the league’s best 3-point shooters in that span.
The absence of Morant left a void for someone to take over the playmaking duties, and that’s an area where Desmond Bane has been nothing short of spectacular. Embracing a more significant role as the initiator of the offense every time Morant isn’t around, Bane recorded 14 assists in both wins over the Spurs and Pelicans. Bane is averaging 5.5 assists per game this season, but that figure rises to 7.1 dimes per contest when factoring in only the games in January. The uptick in assists hasn’t compromised Bane’s scoring ability, though, as he’s also putting up 21.1 points per game this month.
Scoring-wise, the rise of Jaren Jackson Jr. is worth noting. The forward has been spectacular as a two-way presence for Memphis and he is your Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 14. He’s averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game since the beginning of January. He scored at least 20 points in each of his last four outings, and his role as one of the Grizzlies’ go-to options on offense has seen him thrive amid what’s been a career-best season in 2024-25.
Yes, the Grizzlies aren’t at full strength without Morant. However, unlike in recent years, the team is showing it has enough depth to withstand the absence of its star player from time to time.
