NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new season — and a new era — of Memphis Grizzlies basketball began Monday as the team officially kicked off training camp in Nashville.
With new faces on the roster and an updated offensive system, the Grizzlies are embracing the changes.
"As a group, I feel like we are all locked in and very excited," Ja Morant said.
"It was great," said Zach Edey, the Grizzlies' first-round draft pick. "We worked out a little bit in the gym all summer, but finally getting here and seeing how it all goes, it was great."
The Grizzlies showed their excitement to return to the grind, and it was evident on the court.
"I thought we did a phenomenal job today," head coach Taylor Jenkins said. "I feel like we set a tone for the rest of the season. This was one of the shorter day-one practices we've had at training camp, but the work rate was some of the best ever."
Today's practice wasn’t typical, as Jenkins and his six new assistant coaches implemented both new offensive and defensive systems.
"You know, I’m seeing a lot of different looks now—catch-and-shoot opportunities, back-cuts and catching on the run," Morant said. "I feel like it plays right into my hands and allows me to create better looks without having to create so much."
Jenkins echoed that sentiment regarding the offense.
"The amount of movement we’re going to have is going to be a lot different," he said. "When the ball’s moving, everyone is moving in sync with a high level of anticipation. It may be ugly at times right now, but our guys are picking things up quickly."
Defensively, Jenkins wants to dial up the pressure, similar to how Memphis played in Summer League.
"There are some new nuances to our full-court defense that we’ll be unlocking over the preseason," Jenkins said. "I’m excited about having more of an aggressive, pressure-based mentality instead of a containment mindset."
Jenkins was also impressed by how Edey has adapted to his changing role.
"I’ve been really surprised by his ability to get up and down the floor on both ends," Jenkins said with a smile. "We’ll dive more into transition defense tomorrow, but his role change has been pretty impressive—even dating back to Summer League."
As Edey continues to grow, he's soaking up all he can from his teammates.
"Everyone on this team has been in the league longer than me, and they know what to do. I’m just trying to listen and learn from them," Edey said. "They’ve been great—coming up to me, talking to me, and getting me up to speed."
Nearly a full 24 hours passed without any injuries, but Jenkins delivered some troubling news at the end of practice. He revealed that Jaren Jackson Jr. felt some tightness in his hamstring, and there are concerns it could be a strain. More information is expected in the coming days.
The Grizzlies open preseason play against Dallas on Oct. 6.