Warriors vs Grizzlies
Overview
The Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies are a rivalry matchup that repeatedly clashed in the NBA Western Conference from the mid-2010s to the mid-2020s. Due to the contrast in styles (perimeter-oriented spacing basketball versus paint attacks and physical basketball), on-court tensions between players, and major battles in the playoffs and play-in, even regular-season games carry high tension.
Key details
Origins of the rivalry: 2015 Western Conference semifinals
The first turning point is the second round of the 2015 playoffs. The Grizzlies, in the era called Grit and Grind with the core of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen, won through Game 2 and took a 2-1 series lead. However, the Warriors countered by switching to a small lineup under head coach Steve Kerr and utilizing Andre Iguodala's defense, coming back to win the series 4-2. This series is regarded as the starting point of the Warriors dynasty and the occasion for the two teams to become conscious of each other's styles.
2021 play-in tournament
In the May 2021 play-in tournament, Memphis defeated Golden State in overtime to secure the franchise's first playoff berth. This game announced the emergence of the young Memphis core (Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks) and remained a painful elimination memory for the Warriors.
2022 Western Conference semifinals
The second round of the 2022 playoffs is the peak of the rivalry. In Game 1, Draymond Green was ejected, heating the atmosphere, and in Game 2, Dillon Brooks's hard foul caused Gary Payton II to suffer an elbow fracture. Green publicly criticized Memphis for breaking the code, the unwritten rules of the game, and head coach Taylor Jenkins and the Memphis roster rebutted, continuing the war of nerves. The Warriors won the series 4-2 and went on to win the Finals that year.
Tactical contrast
- Golden State: Positionless basketball based on off-ball screens and constant ball movement, three-point shooting volume, and switch defense.
- Memphis: Ja Morant's rim attacks and transition play, Jaren Jackson Jr.'s rim protection and perimeter shooting, and second-chance opportunities through rebounding control.
Matchups between the two teams often come down to a battle of pace, and when Memphis gains the upper hand in rebounds and forcing turnovers, Golden State's half-court operation is repeatedly shaken.
Key figures
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson were the pillars of the Warriors dynasty, while Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Dillon Brooks symbolized Memphis's new identity. In particular, the verbal exchanges between Green and Brooks and the point guard duel between Curry and Morant formed the narrative axis of the matchup.
Latest trends
In the 2024-25 season, the two teams met again at a watershed moment in the standings. In the April 2025 play-in tournament, Golden State defeated Memphis to advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, and assessments emerged that the experience of the Curry-Jimmy Butler combination surpassed the energy of young Memphis. Meanwhile, Memphis's roster was reshuffled due to Morant's disciplinary and injury issues and a coaching change, and with Dillon Brooks leaving the team, the cast of the 2022-style war of nerves changed significantly. The matchup is still consumed as a key card in the Western Conference mid-table standings race and has established itself as a matchup the NBA frequently includes in its in-season rivalry week scheduling.
Related topics
- [[Golden State Warriors]]
- [[Memphis Grizzlies]]
- [[NBA Playoffs]]
- [[Stephen Curry]]
- [[Ja Morant]]