Desmond Bane propels the Grizzlies to first win of the season

The Memphis Grizzlies have something to smile about for the first time all season. At the start of the summer the Tennessee franchise was seen as one of the most complete teams in the NBA, but their first victory of the season has been a long time coming. Taylor Jenkins’ team suffered six straight defeats until the tide finally turned at the weekend, with a 100-112 win over the Blazers. They still remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference with the dubious honor of being the worst team in the entire league.

Losing Ja Morant (banned for 25 games with 18 left to play) has been felt on the banks of the river, but another player has emerged as the ideal replacement - Desmond Bane.

The Moda Center witnessed the roar of the best player to date for a dreary Grizzlies. Desmond Bane stepped into the limelight with an impressive performance, managing to close the game with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Last year he was already one of the team’s best players, managing to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 triples per game. Those figures enabled him to be considered a potential star - as long as he manages to avoid injuries keep a level head. Expectations for Bane remain high within the league, with several experts commenting that they are facing a potential All-Star. This year will be important for Memphis on a collective level, and crucial on an individual level for the 25-year-old. His versatility has allowed him to become one of the best shooters at the beginning of the season.

Memphis seek redemption

The Grizzlies’ season has been surprisingly underwhelming. On a defensive level they are among the worst teams in the competition, being only ahead of the Wizards - and even they ended up beating them. Players like Bane himself, Jaren Jackson Jr, Luke Kennard and Santi Aldama will have to weather a delicate situation, but they have enough talent to turn it around.