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Memphis Grizzlies’ Jevon Carter Uses Career Night to Prove Worth, Role

By Christian Dudley

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Jevon Carter #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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After being overlooked for minutes in three consecutive games and reassigned to the G-League, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jevon Carter produced in a major way in Saturday’s win.

The 2018-19 NBA season has been full of ups and downs for the Memphis Grizzlies‘ Jevon Carter. This statement could not be more true as February has come to a close and the schedule for March opened with a road meeting against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

For Carter, the season began with a long G-League stint with the Memphis Hustle. While Grizz Nation was chomping at the bit to see the rookie in action with the major league squad, it took until the Grizzlies’ 29th game for Carter to receive his first minutes of regular season NBA action.

In that first game, Jevon Carter produced a stat line of 11 points (5/9 shooting), one rebound, two steals, and one block in 22 minutes. Forget first-time jitters. He owned the moment. The West Virginia University product proved he could make an impact and was NBA-ready.

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Still, the Memphis Grizzlies’ coaching staff and Front Office has been patient with Carter. Heading into Saturday’s matchup versus the Dallas Mavericks, Jevon has received seven G-League assignments, where he has played in a total of 15 games with the Memphis Hustle.

Jevon Carter has proven himself time and time again against the best competition the G-League has to offer. He leads the NBA’s developmental league in steals per game (3.2) while contributing 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 33.3 minutes.

This demonstrates that he is built for the professional game. He is undoubtedly a top NBA prospect. However, when the Grizzlies’ major downfall began to quickly unfold in December, that is the time in which Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff should have made Jevon a high priority in the rotation.

Again, prior to Saturday’s game between the Grizzlies and Mavericks, Jevon Carter had logged minutes in 26 of 63 games. Being as he is not a two-way contractual player, there is no restriction on the amount of games Carter can play in the almighty NBA.

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A hefty load of G-League stints plus NBA action would have been ample opportunity to expedite this particular youth development project for the Grizz. Yet, this is where we stand today.

On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies got out to an early lead and never looked back. Their 24-39 record suggested they are a young team that has trouble scoring and closing out games in the second half. Honestly, that is the full truth.

Regardless, this battle was the dawn of a new day. By halftime, the Grizzlies had earned a 62-49 lead over the Mavs. Double figure leads have been blown by Memphis many times this season. As Dallas threw efforts at Memphis to break them down and destroy the leverage that had been built in the first half, Bickerstaff turned to Jevon Carter with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.

This motion was another big opportunity for Carter to prove himself to the coaching staff as well as the Front Office. This was nothing new. It has been the trend.

In less than two minutes into his playing time, Jevon splashed home a three-pointer, which gave the Memphis Grizzlies their largest lead of the night (at the time) at 83-65. The rookie was just getting warmed up.

In finishing the quarter on a high note, Jevon Carter continued to show the smooth shooting stroke. It was oozing of confidence after he spashed home a second triple with 31.6 seconds remaining in the quarter.

With one quarter to play, the life had been sucked out of the Mavericks’ home arena. This was largely in part of the impact Jevon Carter had made. Plus, rather than discombobulating in the third quarter, the Memphis Grizzlies took a major step forward on this night by increasing their lead — on the road, no less.

As the Grizzlies’ veterans received a few extra minutes to begin the fourth quarter, J.B. Bickerstaff liked what he saw from Jevon Carter’s first stint of the night. He returned to the rookie by playing him the rest of the way at the 6:44 mark. From there, Carter would continue to steer Memphis to victory.

It led to a third three-point shot being made. Talk about a confidence-boosting performance from a shooting aspect. This is the one aspect of Jevon Carter’s game that has needed some fine-tuning this season, and it seems as if he has finally reached the turning point. He needed this game in the worst way for multiple reasons.

With Jevon, it is not all about defense, as his shooting proved on Saturday. Still, he should be known as a key defensive stopper. He put the Dallas Mavericks on notice on one particular fastbreak where he stuffed Ryan Broekhoff at the rim all by himself. This was more impressive than his 67% shooting accuracy from long-range in the 111-81 road win.

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Carter finished the night with a career-high 15 points (5/8 shooting, including 4/6 from deep), three rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in 12 minutes. He was a +14 on the night, too.

Now the decision should be easy for J.B. Bickerstaff. Play Jevon. Load him up with minutes. As Beale Street Bears recently discussed, it is time for Memphis to act with a sense of urgency behind youth development, and the conversation should absolutely begin with Jevon Carter.

Now is the time to groom Jevon prior to Mike Conley‘s potential departure via trade this upcoming offseason. The rook needs to learn as much as he can from “The Conductor” while they are teammates. This will make Memphis a better club to start the 2019-20 season, assuming Conley is gone by that time.

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Jevon Carter’s strong play on Saturday confirmed that this is nothing new. It continues to be the trend. He will produce when his name is called upon and he absolutely deserves a larger role on this Grizzlies team. This season. Now. In each of the schedule’s remaining 18 games.

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