3 Memphis Grizzlies players apart from Ja Morant who've performed above expectations in the opening games of the 2021-22 NBA season

The Memphis Grizzlies are 2-1 after their first three games of the 2021-22 NBA season. Their victories have come against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers, while their one loss was a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ja Morant has been spectacular and fans are sure to have seen some of his ridiculous highlights that are going around. The third-year guard is averaging 35.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while converting 58.0 percent of his field goals and 44.4 percent from three.

His stellar performance has deservedly garnered significant attention from the NBA world, but other notable members of the Memphis Grizzlies are seemingly being overlooked in the process.

Here are three players, aside from Morant, on the Memphis Grizzlies who have performed phenomenally in their first three games.

---

#3 Jaren Jackson Jr. is back with a bang for the Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Jaren Jackson Jr. agreed to a four-year $105-million rookie extension this past offseason with the reasonable belief that the 22-year-old big man will continue to improve. Last season was a tough measurement for Jackson as he only played 11 regular season games before appearing in the postseason due to a significant injury.

Prior to that, Jackson proved that the Memphis Grizzlies could, at the very least, rely on him to shoot the ball at a high level from three. In 2019-20, he converted 39.4 percent of his 6.5 threes attempted per game, which is an encouraging outlier for a 6'11" player.

The needed growth for the Memphis Grizzlies big man was on the defensive end of the floor. He showed many flashes, but had not yet been able to put it all together for consistent stretches. This may finally be the year he does it and the early signs are promising.

Jackson recorded four blocks in the Memphis Grizzlies season debut, one in the following matchup, and two in their recent showdown against the Lakers.

---

#2 De'Anthony Melton

De'Anthony Melton of the Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Lakers

De'Anthony Melton has been an elite defender for his size for a few seasons now. Standing at 6'2" with a 6'8" wingspan, his fit alongside Ja Morant was somewhat questionable in the year prior as the Memphis Grizzlies searched for an ideal starting backcourt.

Melton has started all three games for the Memphis Grizzlies and is posting career-best offensive numbers. Last season, there were four occasions where Melton tallied 20 points or more, and he has already accomplished that twice in three games this year.

His jump in three-point volume and efficiency is what optimizes his fit on the Memphis Grizzlies roster. He is currently averaging 57.9 percent from three on 6.3 attempts a night, which will surely come back down to earth. De'Anthony Melton is proving his 41.2 percent conversation rate from three last season was not a fluke and that there may be more room for offensive growth.

---

#1 Desmond Bane

Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Lakers

The Memphis Grizzlies made a trade to acquire the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft from the Boston Celtics, which was used to select TCU's Desmond Bane. Bane spent four years in college and was labeled a three-and-D prospect, a mold he fit well in year one.

Since landing on the All-Rookie team in his debut season, Bane has come out of the gates hot for the Memphis Grizzlies in year two. He is averaging the second-most shot attempts on the roster, only trailing Ja Morant. Take a look at his statlines from the first three games of the season.

• G1 vs. CLE: 22 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals - 8/16 FG, 2/6 3P, 4/4 FT
• G2 @ LAC: 19 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block - 7/15 FG, 4/10 3P, 1/2 FT
• G3 @ LAL: 17 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals - 7/15 FG, 2/7 3P, 1/1 FT

The Memphis Grizzlies were in desperate need of shooting on this roster and Bane has been there to supply that at very high volume. If he can keep up this level of play, things will be notably easier for Ja Morant and the rest of the roster.