Grizzlies Storylines through 12 Games

Brandon Clarke’s Emergence

Brandon Clarke is a key piece of the Grizzlies’ rebuild. Widely regarded as the steal of the draft, trading to pick him has already proven to be a great move by the team’s front office. While there are still questions about his long-term development, Clarke has found his groove early in the season, which is a great sign for the future. He’s seen minutes at both the 4 and the 5, and handled them well.

Clarke has already shown that his defensive IQ is through the roof. He uses his ridiculous athleticism to defend the rim and alter shots. He’s recorded at least one block in seven games, and is second among rookies with 1.4 per. His rebounding has been solid, as he leads rookies with 6.6 per game. Clarke has done this while also playing multiple positions, and fitting in with whomever he shares the court with.

Offensively, Clarke has been using his athleticism to serve as great option in the pick-and-roll. According to NBA.com, he ranks in the 91st percentile across the league as the roll man, scoring 1.5 points per possession. Clarke has also shown more comfort shooting than expected. He doesn’t shoot many jump shots, but when he does they are smart shots and he shoots them confidently.

Clarke’s rapid rise is a huge positive for the Grizzlies. The flexibility he brings will keep him in the lineup for a long time.