Memphis Grizzlies 2017-18 Player Review: MarShon Brooks

Memphis Grizzlies guard MarShon Brooks balled his way from China back into the NBA, turning a 10-Day Contract into a two year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

As featured here, the Memphis Grizzlies signed MarShon Brooks to a 10-Day contract on March 27, 2018. It did not take the full ten days for the front office or fans to see that Brooks could still put the ball in the basket at a high level.

In just seven games back in the NBA for Memphis, Brooks scored 20.1 points per game. Can anyone name the last wing player to average 20 points per game for a season for this franchise?

Try Rudy Gay in 2007-08 averaging 20.1 ppg. It has be TEN seasons since the Grizzlies have had a wing player do that. That season for Rudy Gay was the only  season in franchise history a wing player scored 20 points per game.

It was only seven games. It seven games of basically garbage time. Stats are typically not to be trusted towards the end of seasons because of various non-competitive reasons. Players are padding stats to get a contract or defenses aren’t giving full effort because they have been eliminated from the playoffs already.

There are reasons to doubt. There are his doubters. MarShon Brooks can put the ball in the basket in so many ways. He is a professional scorer. Period. Some feel that his lack of defensive prowess and the potential drafting of Luka Doncic and resigning of Tyreke Evans will lead to Brooks finding himself next to last in the rotation of Evans, Doncic, Dillon Brooks, Wayne Selden, and McElmore. Obviously McElmore is the odd man out, and you have to factor in Parsons getting wing minutes too.

Can We Believe In MarShon?

Garbage minutes or not, MarShon Brooks and the Grizzlies played in NBA games against NBA talent against NBA teams fighting for playoff spots and seeding. Shooting 50% from the floor and almost 60% from three in a 7 game stretch in the NBA is impressive no matter the circumstances.

He had moments of being selfish, playing one on one, trying to prove he belongs. That is fine, the man did what he had to do to earn his spot back in the NBA. But he also averaged near 4 assists per game and rebounded the ball. Once teams, began to double team him, he made his teammates better by giving them open looks.

Signing MarShon Brooks to a multi-year deal on the minimum was one of the smartest things this front off has done, arguably ever. It is a nice insurance policy if Wallace cannot resign Tyreke Evans. Brooks isn’t the player Evans is, but the ability to create their own shot is special and something this team desperately needs.  Continuing to play MarShon and winning games, therefore losing the best odds at the first pick in the draft, wasn’t as smart, but oh well.

I am all in on MarShon “Baby Kobe” Brooks. He is far and away worth the risk. A full offseason of building chemistry with this team, learning whatever offense from whatever coach we may hire, and learning his role will only make him better.

Very exciting possibilities with Brooks in Beale Street Blue to come.