The Memphis Hustle has many young players that are hungry for opportunity. Which of them could have a future with the Memphis Grizzlies?
The obvious answer here would be Kobi Simmons. As he has already had some nice games and moments for the Memphis Grizzlies, it only makes sense that he would be a project for further development. Also, with Mike Conley’s future health up in the air, it would be wise to look for point guard talent wherever you can find it.
However, let’s have some fun with this question. Look no further than my man Austin Nichols, a former Memphis Tiger.
While we were both at Briarcrest Christian School, I played on the Freshman team when Austin was a Senior. Unfortunately, I never got to know him very well, but I still remember how great he was at the high school level.
Even though he has had many distractions, Austin still has the talent of an NBA player. While he was at the University of Virginia, many scouts still had him potentially going in the first round of the draft.
Though he only plays about 22 minutes every game for the Memphis Hustle, Nichols still has a solid stat line of 10.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Though he’s only 6’9″, he has been a great rim protector dating back to his college days.
Despite shooting troubles in college, he has flashed a consistent jumper that extends to the three-point line for the Hustle. His newfound shooting touch will definitely serve him well in the NBA.
Next: ESPN has Grizzlies picking Trae Young
It’s unlikely that Austin Nichols will ever be a role player for the Memphis Grizzlies. However, the opportunity is there for him. Only time will tell whether he can be the player that everyone once thought he could be.