The Memphis Grizzlies have been playing well in the NBA 2K25 Summer League. Currently, they are 5-0 going into the championship game with the Miami Heat on Monday. Their 1st round pick center, Zach Edey, only played a couple of games. The Grizzlies have had other players step up in the summer league. One of those players is Scotty Pippen Jr., son of the NBA Chicago Bulls Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen.
The Memphis guard has been averaging 20 points on 49% shooting from the field, 41% from the 3-point line, eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals a game during this year’s Summer League. On Sunday against the LA Clippers, Pippen Jr. served up a triple-double with 23 pts, 10 Rebs, and 10 Asst. This was the sixth triple-double to ever occur in a Summer League matchup.
During the game, Pippen Jr. shot 5-15 from the field but was 3-5 from the land of three. He was perfect from the free throw line with ten shots and brought in two steals and a block. Memphis Grizzlies Forward Jaylen Wells was the leading scorer with 28 points. Wells was 9-12 from the field and an awesome 6-7 from the arch. He also had three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II pitched in with 20 pts, four rebounds, four assists, and a block. Pippen Jr. and Jackson II have been the top scorers for the Grizzlies consistently during the Summer League this year.
Not The Ideal Journey
Scotty Pippen Jr. went undrafted from Vanderbilt in 2022 and was picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers. While there, he played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League and played six games on the Laker’s main roster. In October of 2023 the team released Pippen Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies signed him to a two-way contract.
The young guard played 21 games and started 16 in absence of Ja Morant for the Grizzlies in the 2023 NBA season. At the finish of the season he averaged 12 pts on 49% shooting from the field, was 41% from 3-point line, with three rebounds, and four assists a game. It was not the picture perfect or standard path to the NBA but Pippen Jr is making the best of it.
Pippen Jr. hasn’t reached his full potential yet. With his good play in the Summer League plans for him to contribute to the Memphis Grizzlies team may be in the works. In a game against the Lakers on April 12th of this year, Pippen Jr. scored a career-high 28 points. As of now he is third on the depth chart list for point guard.
Memphis point guards on the roster right now are star Ja Morant and Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose signed a multi-year contract with Memphis in July of 2023. Rose was hit with injuries during the 2023 NBA season and only played 24 games for Memphis. Blending these PGs together for the best outcome and potential is going to be a big task for the Grizzlies this upcoming season.
Summer League Shows Grizzlies Potential
The Memphis Grizzlies have a lot to be happy about coming into the NBA season. Memphis’ star Guard Ja Morant is back from injury. Picking up Zach Edey in the draft was a good move. Other players like GG Jackson II, Jaylen Wells, Jake LaRavia, and Scotty Pippen Jr. have been leaving their mark in crucial situations for Memphis. These players have consistently shown their worth towards being on the team.
Last season, the Grizzlies top scoring contributors were hit with injuries. Ja Morant was out with a season ending injury, Desmond Bane only played 42 games because of injury, and Marcus Smart played only 20. The only player that was regularly on the hardwood for the starting group was Jaren Jackson Jr. but he did miss 16 games.
There is great talent on this Memphis team. The only question is how will the organization get all this potential to gel towards the common goal in the NBA. The Grizzlies missed the NBA Playoffs last season but look to make it back this upcoming season. Just two seasons ago Memphis was one of the top contenders in the Western Conference. If the Memphis Grizzlies can get these players to work together in the same way the Summer League went, this team could see themselves in a position to win their first NBA Title. However, we are far off from that, but watching how Memphis will put things together should be entertaining.
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