Memphis Grizzlies: 2018-19 First Month Awards

Most Improved Player of the Month: Garrett Temple

So, again, we kind of cheated with Temple here. The original intent was to give this to an incumbent Grizzly who had stepped his game up significantly. Unfortunately, such a player doesn’t really exist.

Marc Gasol‘s name comes to mind, but as an already-established star, giving him MIP would be a cop-out. JaMychal Green has been hurt for most of the season, ditto for Dillon Brooks. Wayne Selden‘s been inconsistent, scoring less per 36 than last year.

Ivan Rabb has barely played a full game’s worth of minutes. And MarShon Brooks started his Grizzlies’ career way to well last season to keep that up this season.

That leaves us with the newcomers, and again, Temple rises to the top fairly easily. His 12.3 ppg is 46% higher than his next-best mark.

Better yet, his .468/.410/.838 shooting splits are all career highs, as are his 4.4 three attempts per game. He’s also pulling down his most rebounds ever, with steals just a hair below his personal best.

Temple’s also putting on a convincing early campaign for dark horse All-Defense status. He’s locked up numerous stud swingmen, and as mentioned, posts Memphis’ best d-rating among rotation players.

The returns may be early, but the trade that brought Temple to the 901 looks like a complete fleecing of the Kings.

Giving up only Deyonta Davis and Ben McLemore, at present, GM Chris Wallace netted a guy who, by pretty much any measure, is Memphis’ 3rd-best player so far.