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6 Grizzlies that shined during 2023 NBA Summer League

By Hunter Givens

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 5: Kenneth Lofton Jr., #6 of the Memphis Grizzlies pushes the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of their NBA Summer League game July 5, 2023 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 5: Kenneth Lofton Jr., #6 of the Memphis Grizzlies pushes the ball up the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of their NBA Summer League game July 5, 2023 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies kicked off their 2023 on-court portion of the offseason with a trip to Utah for the 2023 Salt Lake City Summer League.

Bringing with them a mix of established young players looking to expand their game, as well as a collection of rookies looking to make a name for themselves, the 2023 Summer League Grizzlies scrapped to a 2-1 overall record, with wins over the 76ers and Thunder, before a loss to the hometown Jazz capped off their run.

However, wins and losses aren’t considered the primary objective when it comes to offseason hoops, as development and refinement of certain player-dependent skills can be key to both unlocking the potential of young players as well as translating to regular season success (see Desmond Bane in 2021).

Memphis had several standout performances that should reaffirm fans’ confidence in the club’s lauded development system, and gave them, coaches, and the front office a peek into potential important pieces in the organization’s future.

Today, we highlight six Grizzlies players who managed to shine brightest during Summer League.

1. Kenneth Lofton Jr.

If there is one player on the SL roster that several in and around Memphis were excited to see, it was Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Lofton, who was an All-NBA G League First Team member prior to signing a standard contract with the Grizzlies late last season, is a player that many are anticipating seeing development from this summer.

While he may not have truly exceeded the high expectations set before him, Junior still turned in an impressive performance in Utah, averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4 assists throughout the pair of games he appeared in.

Lofton’s strengths came on the offensive end, where the number of positive attributes he brings to his game can seem to be limitless at times.

His post play remains a valuable asset to any offense he plays in, whether it’s backing down mismatches to score under the basket, faking handoffs and driving down the lane, or finding cutters with passes that typically find the mark.

His handle and athleticism are good enough to start fast breaks, and he can stretch the floor from deep, as he proved by shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc on five attempts a game in his pair of appearances.

The area Lofton needs to improve the most is on the defensive end.

While his defensive rebounding acumen is fairly good, using his frame on box-outs while also having great effort and positioning on the boards, his overall defensive game left a lot to be desired.

Slow to help on defensive rotations, not possessing the lateral quickness to stay in front of quicker ball-handlers, and being late to close out against 3-point shooters were some of the deficiencies that showed up in Salt Lake City.

And while these elements are marginally improved from last season, Junior still has a way to go to be an asset on the defensive end.

Overall, however, Lofton showed why many in Grind City are excited about the potential “Snack Randolph” can bring to the Grizzlies.

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