Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

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Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Kleiman wins 2021-22 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year award

Memphis Grizzlies EVP of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zachary Z. Kleiman has been selected as the winner of the 2021-22 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA announced today.

“This is an organizational honor,” said Kleiman. “I wouldn’t be in this position without Robert (Pera)’s vision and support, and I’m grateful to be pursuing NBA championships in Memphis with such a driven and competitive group of players and staff. Thank you to my peers for this recognition.”

Kleiman received 16 of the 29 first-place votes and 85 total points from a voting panel of team executives across the NBA. Executives were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. Kleiman, 33, is the youngest recipient of the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since the 1972-73 season. He also becomes the second person to earn the honor with the Grizzlies, joining Jerry West (2003-04).

In Kleiman’s third season leading the team’s Basketball Operations, Memphis recorded the second-best record in the NBA (56-26) and tied the 2012-13 franchise record for winning percentage (.683). The Grizzlies earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs (a franchise record) and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

Under Kleiman, the Grizzlies assembled a roster that set a franchise record for scoring average with 115.6 points per game (second in the NBA) as the second-youngest team in the NBA. All 9,480 of the Grizzlies’ points this season were scored by players under the age of 30. Memphis led the league in rebounds (49.2), offensive rebounds (14.1), steals (9.8), blocks (6.5), points in the paint (57.6), second chance points (18.7) and fast break points (17.7), setting single-season franchise records in every category except blocks (which ranked second in club history). The Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals and blocks since steals and blocks became official statistics in 1973-74.

This is the first NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award for Kleiman, who has served seven seasons with the Grizzlies and three in his current role.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant doubtful for remainder of 2022 NBA playoffs

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant exited during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7 at Golden State with right knee soreness. Morant underwent an MRI, and subsequent evaluation has revealed a bone bruise in his right knee.

Morant is doubtful for the remainder of the postseason but is expected to make a full recovery.

Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks suspended one game for foul on Gary Payton II

Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for having made unnecessary and excessive contact against Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, resulting in substantial injury to Payton, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

The incident, for which Brooks was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 9:08 remaining in the first quarter of the Grizzlies’ 106-101 win over the Warriors in Game 2 of their conference semifinals playoff series May 3 at FedEx Forum.

Brooks will serve his suspension Saturday, May 7 when the Grizzlies visit the Warriors for Game 3 at Chase Center.

Ja Morant wins 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player Award

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is the recipient of the 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today.

The first player in franchise history to receive the NBA Most Improved Player Award, Morant received 221 points (38 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray finished in second place with 183 points (20 first-place votes). Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland finished in third place with 178 points (11 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Morant averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.16 steals in 33.1 minutes in 57 appearances (all starts) this season and helped guide the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record, the second-best in the NBA during the regular season. Memphis tied its 2012-13 franchise record for wins and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

In his third NBA season, Morant set career highs for scoring average, rebounds per game, steals per game, field goal percentage (.493) and 3-point percentage (.344). Compared to the 2020-21 season, he raised his field goal percentage by 4.4%, while increasing his shot attempts by 5.4 per game, and upped his 3-point percentage by 4.1% on an additional 0.7 attempts per game.

The 22-year-old was selected as a starter for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, becoming the second All-Star starter in franchise history and the youngest Grizzlies player to participate in the event.

Morant led all NBA players in points in the paint per game (16.6), becoming the first guard to do so in 25 seasons since data was first tracked, and ranked second in fast break points per game (4.4), helping the Grizzlies lead the NBA in both categories. He set a single-game franchise record with 52 points on Feb. 28 vs. San Antonio, the first 50-point performance in Grizzlies history.

In addition, Morant became the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in his age-22 season, joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61), Kobe Bryant (2000-01), Tracy McGrady (2001-02), LeBron James (2016-17) and Luka Dončić (2021-22).

Morant has started all of his 187 regular season appearances and has averaged 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 32.2 minutes through his first three NBA seasons. He was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year after being second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Murray State University.

Grizzlies sign Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Shaquille Harrison to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Harrison (6-4, 195) has appeared in 175 career games (23 starts) over five NBA seasons with Phoenix, Chicago, Utah, Denver and Brooklyn and has averaged 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists and 15.2 minutes. He totaled four points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 23 minutes in two games for the Nets earlier this season.

The 28-year-old has started all 10 of his appearances with the NBA G League’s Delaware Blue Coats this season and has averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.90 steals. He has played two additional seasons in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Tulsa, where he ranks second in program history in assists (461) and steals (244).

Grizzlies sign Dakota Mathias to second 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Dakota Mathias to a second 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Mathias (6-4, 200) signed his first 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Dec. 29 and totaled six points and two rebounds in four minutes over four games.

Undrafted in 2018 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Purdue, the 26-year-old has appeared in 12 career games (two starts) for the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers and has averaged 4.5 points and 1.1 assists in 10.9 minutes. He also played 42 games for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 18.1 points while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range.

Grizzlies sign Jon Teske to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Jon Teske to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Teske (7-1, 265) has appeared in 29 games (19 starts) in two seasons with the NBA G League’s Lakeland Magic and has averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.7 minutes. He started all three playoff games for Lakeland last season and averaged 10.7 points to help the Magic capture the 2021 NBA G League championship.

The 24-year-old competed in 129 games (70 starts) over four years at the University of Michigan and finished his collegiate career as the Wolverines’ all-time winningest player (108) and fifth in school history in blocks (165). A native of Medina, Ohio, Teske went unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Grizzlies sign Tyrell Terry to a two-way contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Tyrell Terry to a two-way contract.

Terry (6-1, 170) has appeared in 13 games over his first two seasons with the Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks since he was selected by Dallas with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old started all 13 appearances for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle as a rookie last season and averaged 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 29.4 minutes.

The Minneapolis native started 31 games and averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.39 steals in 32.5 minutes while shooting 40.8% from 3-point range during his lone season at Stanford University, where he was named to the 2019-20 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player for the Grizzlies is also eligible to provide services to the Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate.

Grizzlies sign Killian Tillie to a multi-year contract, and waive Sam Merrill

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Killian Tillie to a multi-year contract.

And in a related move, the Grizzlies waived guard Sam Merrill.

Tillie (6-10, 220) has appeared in 40 games (one start) in his first two seasons with the Grizzlies and has averaged 3.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. The 23-year-old also has started two games for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle and has averaged 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 29.6 minutes.

A native of Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, Tillie played collegiately at Gonzaga University, where he shot at least 40% from 3-point range in all four years with the Bulldogs and earned 2019-20 All-WCC First Team honors as a senior. After going unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft, he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on Nov. 24, 2020, and re-signed on Aug. 11, 2021.

Merrill (6-4, 205) appeared in six games for Memphis this season and averaged 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.7 minutes. Selected with the 60th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Utah State University, Merrill holds NBA career averages of 3.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.1 minutes in 36 games (two starts) for the Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. Memphis acquired the 25-year-old from Milwaukee along with two future second round draft picks on Aug. 7, 2021.

Grizzlies sign DaQuan Jeffries to a 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing DaQuan Jeffries to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Jeffries (6-5, 230) has appeared in 44 games (five starts) in his first two NBA seasons and has averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes for the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets.

In addition, the 24-year-old has competed in 35 NBA G League games (29 starts) and has averaged 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.11 steals in 30.0 minutes for the Stockton Kings and College Park Skyhawks. He has appeared in eight games (seven starts) for the Skyhawks this season and has averaged 15.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.25 steals in 26.6 minutes while shooting 48.0% from 3-point range, which ranks sixth in the NBA G League.

The Edmond, Okla., native went unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft after spending the final two years of his collegiate career at the University of Tulsa.