Desmond Bane answered hardest team-building question for Grizzlies

Desmond Bane's emergence gave the Memphis Grizzlies another star-caliber player, and his max extension cements it.

In the modern NBA, a “Big 3” core is often the ingredient to a championship. Yes, the pieces around them have to fit and perform, and great coaching is needed too. However, having 3 star-caliber players often give teams an optimal chance at winning a championship in the modern NBA. The San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets fit the criteria.

When the “GrzNxtGen” era started, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were the two franchise cornerstones. The question became who’s the 3rd guy — a storyline that loomed even two years ago. Would they acquire one via a high draft pick through their development pipeline? Would they use their collection of young players, sizable contracts, and draft assets to consolidate for a star player? (throwback to the #BealOnBeale campaigns).

Desmond Bane — the 30th pick in the 2020 draft — emerged as the Grizzlies’ 3rd cornerstone star during the 2021-22 season, and Zach Kleiman offered Bane a $207M, five-year extension to cement the fact.

A decision that was quite easy.

“This is an easy decision from the team standpoint. When you look at Des has done, the year over year growth, continuing to get better, Des is one of the very best 3-point shooters in the league, but he’s not just that offensively. He’s someone who’s improved year over year with the ball in his hands, making plays for himself and others. Getting downhill. Very good defender, switchable defender. Someone who’s always locked into team schemes on what we’re doing both ends of the floor.

Zach Kleiman, Grizzlies EVP of Basketball Operations

On the court, his impact and production speak for itself for his contract.

Locking up a promotion in the starting lineup his sophomore season, Bane took a massive leap to evolve into one of the best 3-point shooters in the world, maintaining a 43% 3-point percentage (43.2 to 43.6%) while upping his volume by 3 attempts per game. With an expanded role, he nearly doubled his scoring average (9.2 to 18.2).

Kleiman also praised Bane’s ability to translate his regular season production into postseason effectiveness. He was a catalyst for them in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves — averaging 23.5 points, while also connecting on 49.1% shooting from 3 (9.2 attempts per game).

Bane got off to a fast start to his 3rd year, boasting a near 25-5-5 statline. A toe injury halted his season for a bit, but the improvements didn’t stop. He elevated his scoring and assist averages (18.2 to 21.5, 2.7 to 4.4), and became a better scorer inside the arc (48.4 to 53.4% on 2’s). He noticeably grew more comfortable with the ball in his hands, dissecting defenses as a driver, scorer, and passer.

Though he uncharacteristically struggled as a jump shooter, his playoff effectiveness was still rock solid, averaging 23.5 points in the first round this past season — including a pair of 30-point outings.

How Desmond Bane has transformed his game has launched him into a star-caliber stratosphere. He has been one of the most riveting player development stories we’ve seen in this organization, and it has been pivotal in the team’s trajectory as well. This max contract is not only a reflection of his improvements and his impact thus far, but it’s an investment that his game and production will continue to grow as he enters his prime.

While people may use his accolades as the barometer for the sense for his max contract, the bottom-line is Bane’s skillset and his excellence in his strengths are hard to find.

Elite 3-point shooter, evolving 3-level scorer, great secondary playmaker that can dish out assists with good volume, can function as an on-ball and off-ball offensive player, capable of scoring 20-30 points… all while playing solid defense in any context or scheme. That combination is hard to find, and it’s a star-level skillset that warrants a max contract.

And his success and trajectory on the court doesn’t even tell the full story.

The other compelling component of his extension, a point Kleiman reiterated in several ways during the press conference for Bane’s news, revolved around Desmond Bane and the identity of this team. Kleiman said this extension is “firmly establishing [Bane] as a pillar of the organization going forward” — referring to the shooting guard as someone who embodies the team’s DNA, everything they’re about, and aspiring to be.

As the Grizzlies enter the next iteration of this era, Zach Kleiman and Taylor Jenkins have challenged its core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane to leadership roles for this team. This extension and the endorsements of his character within the team’s culture signify Bane’s ready to take the mantle and run with this leadership challenge head on. He’s also shown that with his willingness to take young players under his wing, along with admitting he’s feeling his voice grow in the locker room.

It highlights how the Grizzlies’ goal of contending for and winning championships doesn’t happen without Desmond Bane the player or Desmond Bane the person.

And that’s brings another component of team-building for a title contender in the modern NBA: continuity. Talent often wins at the end of the day, but the teams aren’t reaching the pinnacle of success immediately by building a “super team”. With teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, or San Antonio Spurs — there’s a continuity within its core, with only auxiliary parts shuffling around them. Even squads like the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have gone far with their cores year after year recently. This era of NBA basketball has shown continuity is king — gaining experience and battle scars with a promising group on its way to immortality.

The Memphis Grizzlies could follow a similar path. Their investment in their core — 3 contracts worth 9 figures in Morant, Jackson, and Bane — gives them the foundation for the journey.

Each player in the core has had a hand in getting the team to this point today — Morant’s superstar rise, Jackson’s defensive growth and excellence, and Bane’s leap as an offensive weapon. Bane’s improvements though answered the hardest team-building question.

Who is the team’s 3rd star?

Desmond Bane has performed to the point of being considered an All-Star caliber player, and he has room for growth to continue ascending. He also is a perfect complement to both Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

The hardest team-building question is out the door, now comes the hardest part of the process … winning a NBA championship.

If you choose to support my Substack, SubTsakalidis — aka “SubTsak” — follow this link to my St. Jude fundraiser page for my wife’s fundraising team, “Allie’s Allies.” If you choose to subscribe, all proceeds will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.