2025 Season Ready: Morant will play for Memphis in opener

Oct 15, 2025; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant laughs while sitting on the bench during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at First Horizon Coliseum. Photo credit © Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images

Tuomas Iisalo announced during media availability on Monday (10/20) that Ja Morant will play for the Memphis Grizzlies in their 2025-26 season opener on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Listen for the pregame at 6:30 p.m., with tip at 7:00 p.m. live on 92.9 FM ESPN on Wednesday. Game heard on 92.9 FM ESPN all season long.

The Grizzlies also put together some distinctive entertainment for Wednesday's Season Opener:

FINALIZE 2025-26 OPENING NIGHT ROSTER

— Memphis Waives Nate Hinton, DeJon Jarreau and Braxton Key — 

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team waived wing Nate Hinton, guard DeJon Jarreau and forward Braxton Key to finalize its Opening Night roster for the 2025-26 regular season.

Hinton (6-5, 210), who signed with the Grizzlies on Oct. 16, logged two minutes in one preseason appearance. The 26-year-old North Carolina native has played 38 games as a reserve in three NBA seasons and 190 games (141 starts) in five NBA G League seasons since going unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Houston. He was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive First Team during the 2023-24 season.

Jarreau (6-5, 185), who signed with Memphis earlier today, has appeared in 10 games off the bench in two NBA seasons, including nine games with the Grizzlies during the 2023-24 season. The 27-year-old New Orleans native also has played 67 games two NBA G League seasons since going unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Houston.

Key (6-8, 230), who signed with the Grizzlies on Sept. 23, totaled eight points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal in 17 minutes in one preseason appearance. The 28-year-old Nashville native has competed in 37 games as a reserve in four NBA seasons and 157 games (94 starts) in five NBA G League seasons since going unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Virginia. He was named the 2024-25 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 2025-26 OPENING NIGHT ROSTER

Santi Aldama

F

6-11

224

1/10/2001

Loyola (MD)/Spain

4

3

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

W

6-5

204

2/18/1993

Georgia/USA

12

15

Brandon Clarke

F

6-7 ¾

210

9/19/1996

Gonzaga/Canada

6

23

Cedric Coward

W

6-5 ¼

213

9/11/2003

Washington State/USA

R

14

Zach Edey

C

7-3 ¾

299

5/14/2002

Purdue/Canada

1

16

PJ Hall 2W

C

6-8 ¼

240

2/21/2002

Clemson/USA

1

45

GG Jackson II

F

6-9

215

12/17/2004

South Carolina/USA

2

8

Jaren Jackson Jr.

F/C

6-11

242

9/15/1999

Michigan State/USA

7

2

Ty Jerome

G

6-5

200

7/8/1997

Virginia/USA

6

46

John Konchar

W

6-4 ¾

210

3/22/1996

Fort Wayne/USA

6

31

Jock Landale

C

6-11

255

10/25/1995

St. Mary’s/Australia

4

12

Ja Morant

G

6-2 ½

175

8/10/1999

Murray State/USA

6

1

Scotty Pippen Jr.

G

6-1 ½

190

11/10/2000

Vanderbilt/USA

3

18

Olivier-Maxence Prosper 2W

F

6-8

215

7/3/2002

Marquette/Canada

2

10

Javon Small 2W

G

6-1

190

12/19/2002

West Virginia/USA

R

24

Cam Spencer

G

6-3

201

4/6/2000

UConn/USA

1

0

Jaylen Wells

W

6-6 ½

206

8/26/2003

Washington State/USA

1

5

Vince Williams Jr.

W

6-6

205

8/30/2000

VCU/USA

3

Featured Image Photo Credit: © Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images