Memphis Grizzlies: First Quarter Awards

Sixth Man of the Quarter: Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke has been a revelation for Memphis. While not as deep of a draft steal as Brooks, Clarke is making many teams regret sleeping on him in June.

His minutes have been heavily limited as part of Memphis’ rookie management plan, as such his raw numbers don’t fly off the page. 11.8/5.9/1.3 aren’t incredibly sexy, but Clarke’s presence is undeniable.

He’s an athletic marvel with a high motor, who moves with purpose and often finds himself in the right place. Clarke’s awareness on both sides of the ball is miles ahead of most rookies. He can capably guard a wide array of attackers, and is comfortable both closing out and being posted up. His versatility makes him a great piece to build with.

Clarke leads Memphis’ bench in scoring by a mile, while also leading them – and all rookies – in rebounds. He’s also been absurdly efficient; his .664 eFG% is fourth in the entire NBA. To boot, he’s draining 45% of his 3-pointers – suggesting his Summer League mark was no fluke – and showing competence off the dribble. Clarke’s emergence as more than just a pick-and-roll/floater threat has added valuable stretching to Memphis’ attack.

It’s hopeful and likely that Clarke’s limited role will be short-lived. As Memphis grows and begins to compete, he should prove himself a valuable cog in many of their best lineups. His per-36 numbers tell the tale: 20/10 with 1.6 blocks. He’s destined for bigger things.