Earlier today, Cedric Coward got the recognition he deserved, landing on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. It has been a special rise for Coward, as he played for Division III Willamette University just a few years ago, and now he's a crucial building block for the Grizzlies. This is a well-deserved accolade for Coward, who impacted winning despite the Grizzlies being ravaged by injuries and tanking.
Cedric Coward played in just 25.8 minutes per game but ended up averaging 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 62 games as a rookie. Even though the Grizzlies ended up going 25-57, Coward had a profound impact on winning despite battling injuries and minute restrictions. It will be exciting to see how well he does in his second season with a full offseason and scaled up minutes.
Despite some concerns of Coward not landing on All-Rookie First Team due to playing less minutes than some of the other top rookies, voters saw how impactful he was in a short time. Selected 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, a strong argument can be made that he is the biggest steal of the class so far.
Cedric Coward is a crucial building block for the Grizzlies' future
With the Grizzlies rebuilding and a Ja Morant trade likely to happen this upcoming summer, the Grizzlies have plenty of future flexibility but will have to keep boosting the talent on the roster. Luckily for them, players such as Cedric Coward and Zach Edey are a very good starting point, along with three top-32 picks in a stacked 2026 NBA Draft.
Cedric Coward is an incredible rebounder for his position and is a smart offensive player off-ball. He has also shown some upside as a rim protector despite being listed at 6-foot-5. It will be essential for Coward to improve as an on-ball shot creator and to get stronger as he keeps evolving. However, his game already has a very safe floor with his basketball IQ and two-way upside.
He will benefit from additional on-ball Summer League reps as well, similar to former Grizzly Desmond Bane. Beyond his promising on-court start, Coward is already a willing leader and has shown the willingness to put in the work to improve his game. Coward joins teammates Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells as recent Grizzlies rookies to land on the All-Rookie First Team.
Even though the Grizzlies paid a hefty price to move up and select Cedric Coward 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, it was clearly the right decision. Alongside Zach Edey and this year's incoming draft class, Coward should be a driving force towards the Grizzlies returning to playoff basketball soon.
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