The Memphis Grizzlies and rising star point guard Ja Morant took down Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Friday night in the play-in game to clinch the eighth seed.
Memphis, who have played just two seasons since losing franchise staples Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, are back in the playoffs.
This 2020-21 rendition of the Grizzlies is the youngest NBA playoff team since the 2010-11 Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.
Memphis has an average age of 24.3 years, according to Hispanos NBA.
The 2010-11 Thunder had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. It was Harden’s second season in the league, Westbrook made his first All-Star game and Durant led the league in scoring for the second year in a row.
Oklahoma City went 55-27 to get the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies’ season wasn’t as good as that, but they have a group of fun young players.
Morant had 35 points, six rebounds and six assists on Friday as he led the Grizzlies over the Warriors. Rookies Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman both played more than 20 minutes and are looking like draft-day steals. Memphis has managed to put together a team in which every player is good. It’s a deep rotation, and with Morant at the helm, there’s some emerging star power.
They’ll see the No. 1 seeded Utah Jazz in the first round.
For those who are curious, the Thunder’s 2010-11 team reached the Western Conference Finals. They beat the Denver Nuggets in the opening round and the Grizzlies in the second before falling to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks.
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