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Grizzlies, Ja Morant happy to play an NBA game in Memphis.
It sounded like a Grizzlies game with the arena music. It looked like one as they raced to a third consecutive preseason win.
Even the sparse number of invited family and guests made Fedexforum feel familiar again. Some of the fans booed the Atlanta Hawks as they entered the arena floor.
The Grizzlies’ 128-106 win Thursday night felt like old times in a new world. After nine months away, they reveled in being in familiar territory.
“There’s no place like home and you know, we just play with a swag and that’s what we need,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
For the first time since March 10, there was NBA action in Memphis. Ja
Morant added some showmanship when he was introduced as reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and he hit the popular “Griddy” dance while hi-fiving his teammates.
As Three 6 Mafia’s “Who Run It” played, Dillon Brooks did his traditional dance while his teammates circled him and jumped around.
It was long overdue after the team spent a month in the NBA bubble in Orlando and opened the preseason in Minnesota with no fans for two games.
“I think we’ve all missed it. We’ve all missed the feel of having a home game in there,” guard Grayson Allen said. “It’ll still be a little weird not having it full but it’ll definitely be nice to be playing again and protect our home court.”
Some things were different. Artificial crowd noise was sprinkled in with the team’s usual in-arena sounds. Courtside seats across the bench were in groups of two chairs spaced out.
There were no flames that shot up on the court during player introductions as well as no cheerleaders on the sidelines.
It was a preview of things to come. The Grizzlies have their final preseason game Saturday against the Hawks and then open the season with two home games, the first on Dec. 23 against the San Antonio Spurs.
They’ll be one of seven NBA teams scheduled to allow fans to start the season. Fedexforum will be at 20% seating capacity.
The players didn’t mind. They were just happy to play on their court where they were last seen in a 120-115 loss to the Orlando Magic.
“We love our Memphis fans and we love playing at Fedexforum. We play our best basketball there,” said Brooks, who had a team-high 24 points.
In March, there were just few signs of the changing world. Hand sanitizer stations were placed around the arena and players were encouraged not to sign autographs or greet fans.
Nine months later, things are more dire as COVID-19 cases continue to reach record levels in Shelby County and around the country. But as the Grizzlies navigate this season and learn lessons from their playoff chase last season, they appreciated being able to do it at home again.
The few fans might’ve been drowned out by the arena music and pumped in crowd noise, but it was a new normal they embraced like an old friend.
“For us to be able to have fans, it’s good for us, especially not seeing them for a while,” Morant said. “So I’m very excited to have fan in the arena. Even though it’s not a lot, I’m just ready to go out there and play for them.”