The 2024-25 NBA season is upon us, and many of the NBA teams are hosting their annual media today on Monday. Preseason is set to kick off in a couple of days, and anticipation for many teams is at an all-time high.
A new season brings new optimism for most teams, and that is the case for many Western Conference teams. ESPN released their NBA win projections for the 2024-25 season, and a surprise West team is amongst the top.
According to ESPN, the Memphis Grizzlies’ win total is 51.1, the second-highest in the West Conference and third-highest overall.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 127-113 Grizzlies win at Crypto.com Arena on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. This surprise Western Conference team enters the 2024-25 season with a surprisingly high win total.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
ESPN releases their NBA win projections for the 2024-25 season
Eastern Conference:
1) Celtics [52.4 wins]2) Cavaliers [50.6 wins]3) Bucks [46.7 wins]4) Pacers [46.7 wins]5) Knicks [45.4 wins]Western Conference:
1) Thunder [53.7 wins]2) Grizzlies [51.1 wins]3) Mavericks… pic.twitter.com/i5Kc9oQglb— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 30, 2024
The Grizzlies were among the worst teams in the NBA last season, but this had nothing to do with a lack of talent. In fact, they were the most injured-riddled teams in the entire league.
Memphis set an NBA record by using 33 players. The constant roster changes led to 51 starting lineups, another NBA record. The Grizzlies lost 578 games due to injuries, another league record. The Grizzlies couldn’t catch a break all season long, and their 27-55 record, finishing 13th in the West, reflected that.
The Grizzlies were without many of their top players, but none hurt worse than their All-Star guard, Ja Morant. Morant only played nine games out of a possible 82 games due to a shoulder injury he suffered after serving a 25-game suspension to start the season.
In those nine games, Morant showed that he is still amongst the top players in the league. He averaged 25.1 points per game, 8.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.8 steals while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three.
Although Morant is a spectacular player, he has never played more than 67 games in his career, the most recent being the 2019-20 season, his rookie season. Health will be vital for Morant and the Grizzlies if they want to reach that win total.
Morant is itching to get back to the court, as he told reports at his annual basketball camp in Memphis in late June.
“I hate being around basketball and not being able to play, man,” Morant said. “I don’t got too much longer, I can wait to make sure I’m able to play and be cleared when the season comes.”
In the two seasons prior to the 2023-24 one, Morant and the Grizzlies showed they are a force to be reckoned with, recording a 107-57 record and finishing with a top-three record in the West.
Memphis will look to pick up right where they left off with Morant on their side.
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