Ja Morant and Zach Edey Lead Grizzlies to Season-Opening Win

Ja Morant returned to the court as expected and assisted the Memphis Grizzlies in narrowly defeating the Utah Jazz 126-124 in an exciting season opener. Morant returned from suspension and a shoulder injury that limited his playing time last season, and appeared in good form. He completed the game with 22 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists while making 7 of 12 shots from the field.

Zach Edey, who stands at 7-foot-4 and is a rookie from Purdue, was the Memphis Grizzlies’ 9th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he recently played his first game in the professional league. Edey tallied five points and five rebounds in a mere 15-minute timeframe. Yet, his evening ended abruptly after he was disqualified in the beginning of the fourth quarter. Even with minimal playing time, Edey displayed his impressive defensive skills that led to him being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year during his college career.

Despite Edey not being present in the final moments, the Grizzlies managed to secure the victory. The newcomer displayed glimpses of promise in the preseason. Scoring an average of 12.2 points and grabbing 7.2 rebounds in five games. As the season continues, Memphis will aim to incorporate him more into their rotation.

The next game for the Grizzlies will be against the Houston Rockets on Friday, October 25th. Fans in Memphis Grizzlies have reasons to be excited this season. As Morant is back in top form and Edey is getting more comfortable.