You may have read about Kyle Anderson‘s chances to win the Most Improved Player award, but he’s not the only Memphis Grizzlies player with a shot at a national award.
In fact, this team has a lot of star power for a team that will likely end the year without any players being seriously considered for a national award. That being said, there is one guy who has been turning heads in his respective position.
That player is Desmond Bane. As I’ve said, Bane likely won’t win the Rookie of the Year award, he simply isn’t involved enough quite yet. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been a great pickup for this Grizzlies team.
Desmond Bane has brought great value to the Memphis Grizzlies
Expectations were relatively low for Bane. He was drafted at the tail-end of the first round and with a crowded back court, everybody assumed he would be on the bench for much of the year. But injuries thrust him into a role early and he excelled, becoming another efficient player on a Grizzlies team that thrives on efficiency.
His 9.6 points per game won’t tell the full story, as he has given this team a veteran presence despite being a young player. The Grizzlies haven’t been a great 3-point shooting team, but he’s been one of very few guys who have kept this team afloat from down town.
His 44.3% shooting has dipped a little bit since earlier in the year, but he remains the best shooter that this team has right now. With Ja Morant bricking almost everything he throws at the basket, Bane has been a huge breath of fresh air.
So far, he has hit a ceiling with this Grizzlies team, but his minutes will only increase as he establishes himself as a similar player to Grayson Allen. The only difference is that Bane is younger and has a lot more potential.
Look for Desmond Bane’s name to be in the ROTY conversation, even if he might not have the ability to earn the crown over big names like LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman.
If this Grizzlies rebuild ends up being successful, Bane should be a huge part of it. Alongside Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., he could be a part of one of the NBA’s next great franchises.