Though his time with the Memphis Grizzlies was short, Jevon Carter — the player and person — will not be forgotten.
Farewelll to Jevon Carter, who was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies organization for just one season. Carter came in to the NBA last season as one of the most respected college defenders of all-time. His stardom at West Virginia made him a force to be reckoned with on the court. He was even voted by his fellow rookies as the top defender in their incoming class in 2018. Many Grizzlies fans even speculated that he could be Tony Allen 2.0.
Unfortunately, due to his offensive struggles, he did not receive as much playing time with the Grizzlies of Beale Street. This, though, does not mean that he did not embody what it means to be a Grizzly. He played hard. He was a great defensive player. He was a selfless basketball player. He gave it all back to the fans, too. These things are what led to him being an instant fan favorite regardless of playing time.
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No, Jevon did not receive much playing time. No, he was not the Rookie of the Year. Though he was just traded to the Phoenix Suns, that does not mean that he will not be missed in Memphis. He may not be a star (yet) in the NBA following his first professional season, but he was a G-League standout.
Carter averaged 18.4 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. Because of his play style, helped lead the Memphis Hustle to a first ever appearance in the G-League postseason. The potential was absolutely present; Carter only needed more of an opportunity to show what he could do with the Grizzlies.
Memphis was able to see Jevon grow throughout the 2018-19 season. We saw the defensive talent in him as well as some offensive highlights from time to time. Just because his time in Memphis has ended does not mean that he will ever stop being a Grizzly at heart. What he has learned will carry on to Phoenix. Carter will be missed, but Grizzlies fans will look forward to playing him next season.