Former Memphis Grizzlies forward opens up on team outlook

Over the weekend, the Memphis Grizzlies had a reunion with a former player. After a four-year stint with the team, veteran forward Kyle Anderson signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency this past offseason. Friday’s matchup was the first time he squared off against his former team.

Despite leaving this summer, Anderson holds no bad feelings against his former team. After the game, he spoke about how happy he is to see the Memphis Grizzlies continue to thrive.

“They’ve taken it to a whole new level. Those guys put the work and they work very hard so I’m always happy for them on their journey for sure, watching from afar,” Anderson said. “So it’s pretty awesome to see them do big things.”

Anderson played 24 minutes in the matchup, and posted a stat line of 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. However, he would not get revenge as Memphis walked away with a 114-103 victory.

Kyle Anderson gave lasting advice to Memphis Grizzlies breakout star

For young teams, having solid veterans around is essential. In his stretch with the franchise, Kyle Anderson proved to be a valuable piece. Players now still cite advice he gave over the years.

This season, the emergence of Desmond Bane has been a key storyline for the Memphis Grizzlies. The young guard is putting on an early campaign for the Most Improved Player award. After the win against Minnesota, Bane credited Anderson’s mentorship as a reason for his growth.

“He’s telling me, ‘be aggressive. You need to be aggressive for us,'” Bane said. “So he helped me a lot and helped me grow my game. He’s on his ninth season in the league, so I’m super happy for him where his career’s taking off.”

Going off his contributions on and off the court, Anderson proved to be a valuable pick up for the Memphis Grizzlies. It appears his influence in the locker room still carries weight to this day.