It’s remarkable how much can change in a single calendar year.
In late April 2025, the Memphis Grizzlies were led by Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in a playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. One year later, on April 27, the trio was in the same building for another playoff game — only this time, the circumstances looked very different.
Morant and Jackson were spotted courtside for Game 4 between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons at Kia Center, there to support Bane, who now plays for Orlando.
The three spent five seasons together as cornerstones of the Grizzlies. During that stretch, Memphis reached the Western Conference semifinals in 2022 and secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference twice.
But after being swept by the Thunder in the first round last season, Memphis underwent significant roster changes. Bane was traded to Orlando in June 2025.
Jackson and Morant were initially positioned as the leaders of the franchise’s next era, but after the team’s early-season struggles, Jackson was dealt ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Morant is now the lone remaining member of that once-promising trio still on the Grizzlies roster — though even his future in Memphis has become a frequent subject of trade speculation, with the franchise reportedly open to offers since January.
Jackson, Morant and Bane were drafted in the first round of consecutives seasons from 2018 to 2020. Morant and Jackson earned two all-star appearances, and Bane was a key reason for the core’s lone playoff series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
