With the Western Conference more loaded than ever, one team that every hoop fan is excited to watch next season is the Memphis Grizzlies. Yes, they finished as the bottom three seed last season. But that was majorly because Ja Morant and twelve other players were out due to injuries. However, as we head closer to next season, the superstars are expected to make a heroic comeback and turn things around. And it all begins on October 7 as the Grizzlies kick off their preseason.

But who will Taylor Jenkins’ squad face before the regular season begins? Well, there are some exciting match-ups to look forward to!

Memphis Grizzlies’ Preseason schedule kicks off with a match against the West Champs

Following a three-day training camp which will be conducted at Nashville’s Ensworth High School this time, the Grizzlies will head to the American Airlines Center in Dallas. And they will face a revamped Mavericks squad which recently went to the NBA Finals and has added Klay Thompson to their already stacked roster. As of now, it is uncertain if the star players will suit up for the game. But the potential Ja Morant vs. Luka Doncic matchup has already begun hyping up the fans.

Just a couple of days after that encounter, they will be back in Memphis for their first home game of the season. And their opponents? The Hornets. Well, that game could feature a returning LaMelo Ball who missed most of last season due to an ankle injury. Then, it will be time for them to head back on the road. But this time, it will be a two-game stint on alternate nights, first against the Bulls and the second one against the Pacers. And finally, they end their preseason at home with a highly anticipated game against the Miami Heat. In case you need to keep track, here’s the entire schedule with the teams’ all-time head-to-head record:

Memphis Grizzlies’ potential match-ups and last preseason’s record

While preseason does not affect the eventual outcome of the season on paper, it could provide some crucial time to build chemistry for teams going through a massive change. Sure enough, the Grizzlies could use these five games to figure out their rotation with their star players returning from injury and new talent coming into the system. Especially with the addition of former Purdue sensation Zach Edey. Moreover, Ja has already deemed him a definite “Rookie of The Year” during a recent interview and it will be interesting to see how the two gel together on the floor.

On top of that, fans will also be looking forward to the potential Ja Morant and Tyrese Haliburton match-up during the Pacers game. However, we will have to wait until game day to find out which superstar will or will not suit up during the preseason. Moreover, these five games could help Memphis build momentum for the regular season which they couldn’t do last year. During the last preseason, they finished with a 2-3 record and were the ninth seed in the West. And their season turned even more abysmal as the year went on. But that is in the past and its time for a fresh start with their roster fully healthy. Do you think the Grizzlies can get back to title contention right away?