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Memphis Grizzlies’ Rookies are Vastly Different, Yet Similar

By Christian Dudley

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 4: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 and Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies get lunch on July 4, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 4: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 and Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies get lunch on July 4, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies’ two 2018 NBA Draft picks are vastly different, but together, will satisfy multiple gaps that were evident last season.

This weekend brought birthdays for two members of the Memphis Grizzlies‘ current roster. Oddly enough, both of the team’s two rookies were the players officially gaining another year of age.

Turning 23 years old this past Friday was Jevon Carter — the 32nd overall selection in this year’s annual NBA Draft. He is a total workhorse. It is easy to see that Carter was a four-year senior when declaring for the NBA due to his mental toughness and maturity.

Combine these characteristics with his defensive abilities in the backcourt, and the result is an incredible roadblock for the opposition to attempt to hurdle. If Jevon’s professional self turns out to be anything like his days at West Virginia, Memphis will have found their next Tony Allen-esque defenseman.

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Alternatively, there is Jaren Jackson Jr. — the Memphis Grizzlies’ latest first round pick. On Saturday, he became 19 years old. He is a very talented player in the frontcourt, but is yet so raw. The sky is the limit for him and it is easy to see why he was projected to be a top pick long before Draft Night.

Jackson Jr. is not a similar type to Carter. They obviously play different positions, but their experience levels vary greatly. Jaren logged 764 minutes (over 35 games) in his lone season at Michigan State. Alternatively, Jevon has appeared in 144 collegiate games, logging greater than 4,000 minutes in that span.

A lot of times, you will see NBA teams select pairs of inexperienced and/or raw talents. Oftentimes you will see franchises pick a duo of seasoned collegiate veterans — for instance, the 2008-09 Indiana Pacers selecting two four-year seniors in Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert.

Within the upcoming 2018-19 NBA season, Grizz Nation will witness the best of both worlds. It will be a journey of two first-year players that are located on opposite ends of the experience spectrum. Jackson’s 3.0 blocks and Carter’s 3.0 steals per game averages belong in this culture of stifling basketball.

The common theme of this rookie duo is defense, which is something not commonly found among the majority of today’s young basketball stars. The idea of offense — shooting and scoring — is perhaps at its absolute peak when comparing 2018 to the past 10 to 20 years of hoops in the United States.

The Memphis Grizzlies are not going to sacrifice its culture in order to fit in. The city of Memphis is not about the “fitting in” type of lifestyle.

In owning the fourth and 32nd overall picks in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies had their chances to purposely take a risk on two extremely raw and inexperienced rookies. They could have also went the route of selecting two four-year seniors. At the end of Draft Night, the Grizzlies landed the best of both worlds.

Memphis is going strong with their defensive culture and they intend to score off their defensive intensity. In order to stop a high-powered offense, the Grizzlies will absolutely need to put forth a high-powered defensive machine.

By bringing in a slew of new faces for the new season, this is their ultimate goal. Teams may struggle to reach 80 points, but on the other hand, Memphis may struggle to reach the 80-point mark on game nights.

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The franchise had plenty of areas to improve following a 22-60 record in 2017-18. They have filled a few of those gaps by selecting a terrific combination of rookies. In order for the Memphis Grizzlies to achieve their goals — at the very least, a trip to the postseason — they will lean on their rookie duo to produce. This lies within Carter’s and Jackson Jr.’s strong suit — defense.

Go Grizz! 

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