The new NBA season is officially here as the Grizzlies hit the road to face the Dallas Mavericks in both teams’ first exhibition game of the 2024-25 preseason. The Grizzlies fan base has been kind of anticipating seeing the team on the field, and now the opportunity has finally arrived.

Available players could be limited as some, notably Jaren Jackson Jr., will not be available for the team’s first preseason game. Expect other players like rookie two-way point guard Cam Spencer to also miss the team’s first preseason game due to a minor ankle injury, and of course GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., who are recovering from longer-term injuries.

The Grizzlies and Mavericks will face off on October 7 at 7:00 p.m. CST, the normal time for a weekday preseason and regular season game for the team.

This game will only be available to the Grizzlies fan base with NBA League Pass. However, NBA League Pass is offering a 7-day free trial for those who don’t have access to enjoy next week’s Grizzlies games when they air on 10/7. against the Dallas Mavericks and on October 10th. against the Charlotte Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks on October 12th. and the Indiana Pacers on October 14th.

Most people are just excited about basketball in general, but it helps when starters and star players get something going in the preseason. The Grizzlies will play four of their five projected starters, including Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Zach Edey. As previously mentioned, Jaren Jackson Jr. is unlikely to play due to a mild hamstring strain he suffered during the team’s first practice of training camp last week.

We expect four-year forward Santi Aldama to start in Jackson Jr.’s place as he can be used as a floor defender alongside Zach Edey. Due to Jaren’s absence, the Grizzlies will have an easy rotation with only 10 of their 13 players available on the roster. Add two-way point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., two-way center Jay Huff and training camp invitees Armando Bacot, Yuki Kawamura, Miye Oni and Maozinha Pereira for a total of 16 players available to play have.

On display is what Zach Edey looks like in his first NBA game with the high-end talent around him, the Grizzlies’ new offensive system under assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo and the integration of Scotty Pippen Jr. into the backup point rotation Guard competition.