This past season didn't go close to what Grizzlies fans hoped for. Thankfully, a major silver lining is that they got to select Cam Boozer third overall in what should be a stacked 2026 NBA Draft class. To make matters even better, the Knicks laid out the perfect blueprint for Cam Boozer to evolve into a star, and it looks like he has already taken notice before he even makes his NBA debut.
Tony Jones of The Athletic recently had a conversation with Cam Boozer, and it's clear how much Boozer learned from this year's Knicks' championship run. Based on what we've seen from Boozer at Duke and his Summer League run, it looks like Boozer can become the versatile piece the Grizzlies wanted so badly.
"Versatility is the name of the game. That’s what teams are looking for. Teams want five guys who can make plays. Look at the Knicks this year. Everyone on that team was capable of doing more than one thing. Everyone was capable of playing on or off the basketball. That’s what I feel like I can do best. I can screen. I can handle it. You can put me in a lot of different scenarios." - Cam Boozer
The Grizzlies and Boozer can follow the Knicks formula
Beyond just Boozer, all the young pieces and Zach Kleiman can draw inspiration from the things that made the Knicks so successful in this year's run. While the playstyles between Cam Boozer and Karl-Anthony Towns are different, it's impossible not to think about how effective Towns was as an offensive hub.
Towns really helped unlock the Knicks offense after the Game 3 loss in Atlanta thanks to his ability to score in multiple ways and how effective he was as a playmaker. It would be an incredible development for the Grizzlies to see Boozer bring that level of offensive versatility in a playoff setting as his career progresses.
Boozer also mentioned wanting to be able to play both frontcourt spots and cited the fact that Josh Hart was able to play as a small ball center. While he admitted the need to improve defensively, there is an exciting vision about the versatility and physicality that Boozer can bring the Grizzlies long-term.
Boozer already has multiple translatable star traits
Plus, it helps that Boozer brings tenacity as a rebounder and is such a prolific playmaker already. Boozer has shown promising signs of being a high-level three-point shooter in the NBA and can score at the rim quite well. It will be essential for him to keep tightening his handle and evolving as a defender.
However, Boozer already has an extremely high floor and could reach much greater heights than many outside of Memphis believe. But given how young Boozer is and the fact he is already so well-rounded, he has plenty of time to be a versatile piece that can lead something similar to what the Knicks did this season.
Whether it was at Duke or doing Summer League, we have already seen that Boozer can significantly elevate his teammates even if he doesn't always have the ball. Factor in likely growth on the defensive end and Boozer being a consistently reliable three-point shooter, and the Grizzlies could have one of the most impactful stars in the league one day.
The Grizzlies are trying to shift towards a team that is full of versatility and has a constant knack for making winning plays. If there is the perfect piece that can lead that type of Grizzlies team, all signs point to it being Cam Boozer.
The top 4 prospects of this draft are very good and will understandably create plenty of debate about who is the best. However, Cam Boozer has the perfect formula to follow from the Knicks' championship run to become a star in the NBA early.
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