Vandy alum Pippen Jr. seizes opportunity with Memphis Grizzlies
Former All-SEC performer has enjoyed breakout second season The Memphis Grizzlies, Tennessee's only NBA team, have been eliminated from postseason contention and have only nine games left to play. Most of the team's key players, including Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Brandon Clarke, have missed significant time due to injuries. This has allowed players like Scotty Pippen Jr. who has played in 12 games with the Grizzlies, starting seven and averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 23.7 minutes per game. Pippan, son of Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippon, signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after not being selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. Some media members suggest that his performance has earned him a permanent roster spot.
ที่ตีพิมพ์ : 4 อาทิตย์ที่แล้ว โดย Logan Butts ใน Sports
It has been a bit of a lost season for the Memphis Grizzlies, Tennessee's only NBA organization.
After reaching the playoffs in each of their previous three campaigns, the Grizzlies were eliminated from postseason contention last week and now have only nine games left to play. The future is still bright for the young roster, but most of the team's best players — including Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Brandon Clarke — have missed significant time this season due to injuries.
That lack of established veterans has allowed players like former Vanderbilt star Scotty Pippen Jr. a chance to play significant minutes for the first time in their careers.
Pippen, the son of Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen, has taken advantage of the opportunity. The 6-foot-1 point guard signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after not being selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. But he played only six games in the Purple and Gold before getting waived in the offseason.
In January, the two-time All-SEC performer — at Vanderbilt, Pippen averaged 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 steals over three seasons, twice earning first-team All-SEC accolades — signed another two-way deal with the Grizzlies. By the end of the month, Pippen had made his first career start.
In total, the former 'Dore has played in 12 games with the Grizzlies, starting seven, and has averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 23.7 minutes per game. Some Memphis media members have suggested that his play has earned Pippen a permanent roster spot going forward.
After a 19-point outing in a loss to the league-leading Boston Celtics in February, Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins was impressed with Pippen's quick acclimation to playing starter minutes.
"Scotty, just been here for a few weeks, [I'm impressed with] how he's learning not just to be a scoring guard, but a playmaking guard, and showing us some things defensively that we're encouraged with," Jenkins said.
หัวข้อ: Basketball, Memphis Grizzlies