Memphis Grizzlies Blog – NBA Blog

Jaylen Wells named West Rookie of Month for October and November 2024

The NBA announced that Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played during October and November.

Wells (6-6 ½, 206), selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, started 15 of his 20 appearances and averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25.3 minutes while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range to help guide the Grizzlies to a 13-7 record (third in the West) through the end of November.

The 21-year-old led West rookies in both scoring average and starts and ranked second among all qualified rookies in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. He placed fourth in minutes per game.

Wells scored in double figures 12 times, leading West rookies, and scored at least 20 points twice: 20 points in Memphis’ Nov. 6 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers; and a career-high 26 points in the Grizzlies’ Nov. 23 road victory over the Chicago Bulls, in which he became the first rookie in franchise history to record at least six 3-pointers and at least six assists in the same game.

The Sacramento native, who was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year as a sophomore at Division II Sonoma State before playing his junior year at Washington State, is the first Grizzlies player to earn Rookie of the Month honors since Ja Morant during the 2019-20 season.

Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers was the recipient of the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award.

Injury update on Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Ja Morant:

While attempting to catch a lob during the third quarter of the November 6 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant was destabilized midair by a Lakers player, causing him to fall into extreme right hip flexion. Imaging revealed a posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) along with multiple associated Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains.

Morant is considered week-to-week, and updates will be provided as appropriate.

Grizzlies medical update on four players

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical updates for Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr.:

Bane has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is considered week-to-week. He suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 30.

Smart has been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain and also is considered week-to-week. He sustained the injury in the first quarter of the same Grizzlies’ game against the Nets.

Spencer continues to progress in connection with rehabilitation for his right ankle sprain and a concurrently suffered talar stress reaction. He will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.

Williams Jr. continues to progress in his rehabilitation from a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia. He is expected to return to play within two-to-four weeks.

Grizzlies sign Colin Castleton to two-way contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Colin Castleton to a two-way contract.

Castleton (6-11, 250) spent his rookie 2023-24 campaign as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Lakers after going unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft. He competed in 24 games (23 starts) for the South Bay Lakers during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season and averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. He posted 14 double-doubles.

The 24-year-old also made 16 appearances during the NBA regular season and averaged 1.5 points in 3.7 minutes. He was waived by the Lakers on October 19.

Castleton earned 2022-23 All-SEC First Team and 2022-23 All-SEC Defensive Team honors during his final year at Florida, where he led the conference and ranked third in the NCAA with 3.0 blocks.

Grizzlies sign Jay Huff to a multi-year contract

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed center Jay Huff to a multi-year contract.

Huff (7-1, 240) has appeared in three games as a reserve this season and has averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes while shooting 63.6 percent overall and 57.1 percent from 3-point range after signing a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on July 24.

Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft, Huff has competed in 34 games off the bench and has averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.5 minutes for the Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers following a four-year collegiate career at Virginia, where he was a member of the Cavaliers’ 2019 NCAA championship team.

The 27-year-old also has played 100 NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season games for the Grand Rapids Gold, Capital City Go-Go and South Bay Lakers. During the 2022-23 season, he was named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Defensive First Team with Capital City.

Grizzlies convert contract of Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday promoted the contract of guard Yuki Kawamura to a two-way contract.

Kawamura (5-8, 159) appeared in all five preseason games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and averaged 3.4 points and 4.2 assists in 15.1 minutes after initially signing with Memphis on September 6.

Unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft, Kawamura has competed the past five seasons (2019-24) in the Japanese B.League, where he was named the 2022-23 Most Valuable Player with the Yokohama B-Corsairs. The 23-year-old started all 56 games for Yokohama last season and averaged 20.9 points and 8.0 assists in 30.6 minutes to earn a second straight selection to the B.League’s Best Five team.

Kawamura has represented Japan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics, where he totaled 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists to help Japan take France to overtime on July 30.

Grizzlies sign Miles Norris, waive David Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed forward Miles Norris.

In a related move, the Grizzlies waived guard David Johnson.

Norris (6-10, 220) appeared in 45 showcase and regular season games (43 starts) last season for the NBA G League’s College Park Skyhawks and averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.2 minutes. Undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old played his final three collegiate seasons at UC Santa Barbara, where he was selected to the 2022-23 All-Big West Second Team as a senior.

Johnson (6-4, 203), who signed with the Grizzlies earlier today, appeared in 24 showcase and regular season games (nine starts) last season for the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, and averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.6 minutes. The 23-year-old Louisville product also has competed for the Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 since he was selected 47th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies sign David Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed guard David Johnson.

Johnson (6-4, 203) appeared in 24 showcase and regular season games (nine starts) last season for the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, and averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.6 minutes.

The 23-year-old competed in two NBA regular season games for the Toronto Raptors during the 2021-22 season and has made 97 NBA G League appearances over three seasons with the Hustle and Raptors 905 since he was selected by Toronto 47th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Louisville.

Grizzlies sign Scotty Pippen Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to a multi-year contract.

Pippen Jr. (6-1 ½, 190) appeared in 21 games (16 starts) and averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 25.1 minutes while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3-point range with the Grizzlies last season after he was signed to a two-way contract on January 16, 2024. He was named to the 2024 NBA2K All-Summer League First Team in July.

The 23-year-old, who made six appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers as a rookie during the 2022-23 season, competed in 24 regular season games (seven starts) over two seasons with the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers and averaged 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 28.5 minutes. He was selected to participate in the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.

Unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft, Pippen Jr. played three years at Vanderbilt, where he was named All-SEC First Team following his sophomore and junior campaigns.

Grizzlies to retire No. 9 jersey of Tony Allen

The Memphis Grizzlies will retire Tony Allen’s No. 9 on Saturday, March 15, at FedExForum following the game against the Miami Heat.

Allen will become the third player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired, joining Zach Randolph, whose No. 50 was retired on December 11, 2021, and Marc Gasol, whose No. 33 was retired on April 6, 2024.

After signing as a free agent in 2010, Allen helped guide the Grizzlies to the NBA Playoffs in all seven of his seasons in Memphis (2010-17) and factored into the club’s first postseason victory in 2011 and the team’s trip to the 2013 Western Conference Finals. The Chicago native ranks second in franchise history in steals (762) and ranks in the top 10 in games played (462; 6th), offensive rebounds (741; 9th), blocks (217; 10th) and minutes (11,588; 10th).

Allen was named to the NBA All-Defensive team six times during his seven years with the Grizzlies, receiving three First Team accolades (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15) and three Second Team honors (2010-11, 2015-16, 2016-17). With Allen defending the perimeter, the Grizzlies ranked in the NBA’s top 10 in points allowed six times in seven seasons, surrendering a league-best 89.3 points in the 2012-13 season during a franchise-record 56-26 campaign.