The dates are officially set.
Memphis Grizzlies training camp will begin on Sept. 30 in Nashville at Belmont University, with three days of practices that will give a glimpse into the direction of the 2025-26 team.
A revamped staff is taking over, led by coach Tuomas Iisalo, who replaced Taylor Jenkins late last season. Memphis also said goodbye to former starting shooting guard Desmond Bane and hello to projected starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
A promising rookie class and free agents are expected to contribute to the rotation and round out the roster.
It might take months to get a strong pulse on what this team could be, but the process starts in camp.
Here are three things to watch during Grizzlies training camp action.
New staff and system
Iisalo is stepping into his first full season as head coach after taking over in an interim role for the final nine regular-season games.
Most of the attention when Iisalo took over was focused on what he would do to revamp the offense. His increased usage of on-ball screens instantly provided a different look and improved the play of key figures like Ja Morant and Zach Edey. In camp, Iisalo can begin to incorporate his entire offensive system.
Defense doesn’t get the same attention — it was rarely the main problem in Jenkins’ six seasons. The Grizzlies finished in the top 10 in defensive ratings in four of those. But they struggled mightily in the second half of last season, and Memphis prioritized adding players with strong defensive abilities this offseason.
Iisalo and his staff will be tasked with getting the Grizzlies back to their elite defensive levels. The personnel has improved, so expectations are in order.
Injury updates
The Grizzlies could begin the season without two starters. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey both underwent offseason procedures that make their status uncertain.
Jackson is further ahead after having toe surgery, and he has not been ruled out for the season opener on Oct. 22. An update is expected soon. That, and his level of activity in training camp will be a gauge of his progression.
Edey won’t be ready at the start of the season after having ankle surgery. Any participation in camp likely will come as individual work.
Edey closed last season strong, establishing himself as a physical interior presence with his screens and rebounding. Both those skills will pay huge dividends in Iisalo’s system, so Memphis can’t go too long without the 7-foot-4 center.
The next step
Jackson and Morant are the stars, so their play will go a long way in determining where the Grizzlies end up in 2026. However, there also is an abundance of young players who need to take the next step.
Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson battled injuries last season, but Memphis could use their skill sets on the wing. Edey and Jaylen Wells will be in prominent roles again, so any positive developments should make the Grizzlies a stronger team.
With Bane no longer an option, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Morant will be leading the show, provided they can remain healthy, and get back into the All-Star conversation.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.