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The Memphis Grizzlies' 2025 season came to an unceremonious end Saturday night. They became the first team knocked out of this year's NBA Playoffs—swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The final dagger was a heartbreaking 117-115 loss that felt like a perfect storm of what's gone wrong in Memphis all year: close, competitive, but not quite enough.
For a team that once had real championship ambitions, this exit is devastating and raises even more questions.
The "what-ifs" will haunt Memphis fans for a long time. What if Ja Morant had played a full season? What if injuries hadn't torn through the roster? What if the chemistry that once made this team electric hadn't frayed?
Of course, it's impossible to talk about the Grizzlies' downfall without mentioning Ja Morant's absence. His season, derailed by off-court issues and injuries, left a superstar-sized hole Memphis couldn't patch over. Even with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane showing flashes, it was clear that without Ja, the Grizzlies didn't have the firepower to hang with rising teams like OKC.
But blaming it all for missing Ja would let the front office off easily.
Memphis isn't just one player away. This series exposed a roster that's become stuck between identities — not quite the gritty underdog that took the league by storm a few years ago, and not polished enough to play with the true contenders. The depth that once made Memphis dangerous has thinned out. Injuries, underperforming draft picks, and questionable roster decisions have caught up to them.
The roster that once felt like a parade of "next-up" talent now looks thin. Outside of their core three — Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. — the Grizzlies lack reliable contributors who can step up when it matters most.
With multiple first-round picks stockpiled and some tough contract decisions ahead, GM Zach Kleiman is under pressure to pivot — and fast. The clock's ticking on a core that once looked like the future of the West.
Give Oklahoma City their flowers. They didn't just sweep Memphis — they announced their arrival. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a breakout postseason from Chet Holmgren, OKC didn't just win — they announced themselves. They rallied from double-digit deficits, out-executed Memphis in crunch time, and showed the composure usually reserved for veteran squads.
What stood out most was composure. OKC played like a team that had been here before, even though this core is just starting. Every time Memphis punched, the Thunder answered — and when it came down to clutch time, there was no fear.
The Grizzlies now look at a new generation that's not waiting its turn. If anyone needed proof that the West's power structure is shifting, this series was it.
The offseason promises major changes for Memphis. Will they swing a blockbuster trade? Rebuild around Ja and JJJ? Rethink their entire approach. One thing's clear: standing still isn't an option.
In Taylor Jenkins' brief tenure, Tuomas Lisalo led the team to a 4–5 record to close the regular season and navigated them through the play-in tournament to secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Despite the team's subsequent first-round playoff exit, Iisalo strongly desires to remain with the Grizzlies as the permanent head coach.
The Grizzlies front office now faces a pivotal decision: to retain Iisalo, who brings a fresh perspective and a track record of success in European leagues or to pursue a different direction in their coaching search. This choice will significantly influence the team's strategy and performance in the upcoming seasons
The 2025 Grizzlies season will be remembered for disappointment. How they respond might define the next five years.
