Grizzlies' front office garners nods but falls short of top NBA ranks, reflecting challenges amid injury and a competitive Western Conference.
The Memphis Grizzlies earned modest recognition but did not break into the top tier of The Athletic’s annual front-office rankings, receiving nine points across three ballots in a survey of 36 league executives. The results placed Memphis in the “others receiving votes” section, reflecting a degree of respect from rival evaluators but also signaling uncertainty about the franchise’s broader direction.
The rankings, released this week, asked executives to assess the league’s top basketball operations groups based on roster building, asset management, cap strategy and long-term vision. Votes were tallied on an MVP-style scale that awarded 10 points for a first-place vote and descending values through fifth place. Memphis did not receive enough support to appear among the top 10, nor did it receive mentions in the separate category identifying front offices seen as poised to rise.
The Grizzlies finished alongside the Denver Nuggets, who also collected nine points. Both teams trailed Detroit, which picked up 17 points, and landed just ahead of Brooklyn, Philadelphia and the LA Clippers. Several franchises received a single vote, but Memphis was among only a handful outside the top 10 to appear on multiple ballots.
The outcome illustrates how dramatically the league’s perception of the Grizzlies has shifted. Memphis once garnered praise for its draft-centered roster construction and the rise of a young core led by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Injuries and instability over the past two seasons, however, have complicated the organization’s trajectory and slowed the momentum that previously fueled optimism.
General manager Zach Kleiman has overseen a front office that built one of the league’s youngest contenders through shrewd drafting and internal development. That structure remains intact, but the organization now faces a more crowded field of rising competitors.
Oklahoma City retained its position as the league’s top-ranked front office. Houston surged from the bottom half of the league to No. 3, Minnesota earned praise for consecutive conference finals appearances, and Detroit broke into the conversation with a surprise rise in the Eastern Conference standings.
Memphis’ presence on three ballots suggests the organization has not lost credibility among executives who still view the roster as capable of returning to form. Morant’s expected full-season availability, Bane’s scoring growth and Jackson’s defensive impact continue to offer a foundation that many around the league respect.
But the ranking also signals that the Grizzlies have ground to make up. The team’s lack of representation in the “on the rise” category reflects the current hesitancy among executives to predict an immediate turnaround. Stability, improved health and reestablishing a consistent competitive identity will be critical to reshaping how the team is viewed.
For now, Memphis sits in a middle space: respected enough to earn votes, but not yet positioned among the league’s elite front offices. The coming season will determine whether the franchise can move back toward the top of the rankings or whether its standing remains unchanged.