As basketball season approaches, many are anticipating a heated battle between Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart during training camp. 

Former Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks scored 39 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and Canada won its first medal at a global men’s tournament since 1936 by topping the U.S. 127-118 in the third-place game in Manila on Sunday.

Andreas Obst scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and Germany shredded the U.S. defense for much of the way in its first win over the Americans — 113-111 in the World Cup semifinals on Friday night.

Here are a couple of storylines that have come out of this World Cup as it wraps up this weekend.

The success of the Grizzlies in Memphis was great news for the Tennessee Titans, according to Titans radio voice Mike Keith. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. struggles again with early foul trouble, but Team USA advances to Friday’s semifinals.

The U.S. is going to the Paris Olympics next summer. Lithuania made sure that was the only good development for the Americans on Sunday night, when it pulled off a basketball World Cup stunner.

The city has several scenarios for how the stadium-funding debate could go moving forward.

The United States and Jaren Jackson Jr. rallied late to beat Montenegro at the FIBA World Cup. Next up is a rebounding test against former Grizzlies teammate Jonas Valanciunas. 

The Grizzlies started making preseason roster moves on Thursday by signing draft pick GG Jackson II to a two-way deal and adding veteran guard Shaq Harrison ahead of preseason camp. 

The Grizzlies will play their first 25 games without Ja Morant, but staying afloat is certainly achievable. 

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The United States has cruised at the FIBA World Cup so far, but that could soon change. Next up for Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Americans are two games against NBA-level centers. 

Should the city move forward with funding for the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium? Of course. But only as part of a larger agreement that keeps the Grizzlies in town. 

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Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked two shots on Monday as the United States advanced to 2-0 in group play at the FIBA World Cup. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 12 points, four rebounds and a block in his FIBA World Cup debut as Team USA defeated New Zealand, 99-72, in their opening game of the competition in Manila, Philippines.

Even if Ja Morant had played for the United States at the FIBA World Cup, there are other factors influencing his chances to make an Olympic roster.

Morant’s now second NBA suspension, which will cost him the first 25 games of next season, risks an abdication of this conversational throne. 

Get excited for the season to come — here’s the Consumer’s Guide to the 2023-2024 Memphis Grizzlies home schedule.

To the degree Memphis fans care about national television attention, it could have been so much worse.

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Grizzlies Insider: Will teams care about the in-season tournament? We must wait to find out.

The Grizzlies will open the season Oct. 25 at home against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league have earned the fans’ faith. But we won’t have a clear picture until November when the players step on the court. 

The NBA announced the in-season tournament schedule on Tuesday, which provides a glimpse at a few upcoming Grizzlies games. 

Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. had solid performances for their respective countries on Sunday.

Gasol began his NBA journey with the Grizzlies, and that period is more than a footnote as he enters the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.

Luke Kennard’s first time golfing in Memphis began with a donation to St. Jude.