The pre-draft process is when the Cedric Coward hype train began, and the Grizzlies honed in on drafting him once they obtained a first-round pick the week before the draft. While the Grizzlies' start to the season has been marred by injuries, drama, and a string of losses, Cedric Coward remains a bright spot to look forward to.
He recently entered the starting lineup, replacing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, after coming off the bench for his first 13 games. His presence as a spark plug has been needed for a team looking to find anything to help them snap out of their current five-game losing streak. With Jaren Jackson Jr. doubtful to play their next game against the Kings with an ankle injury, Coward will likely be the go-to option.
Coward has supplanted himself as the wing of the future in Memphis
It was noticeable almost immediately that Coward should've been inserted into the starting lineup earlier than he did. However, his promotion to the starting unit coincided with the return of starting center Zach Edey, so that might have always been the plan. Coward is the third-leading scorer on the team and one of their best defenders on the perimeter, 15 games into his rookie season.
He kept hold of his position as the second-best rookie on the Kia NBA Ladder for the fourth consecutive week, and appears to be in the driver's seat to win Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October-November. A common player comparison for Coward going into the 2025 NBA Draft was Kawhi Leonard, and at least one prominent NBA player believes he could reach that level of play.
Grizzlies' nemesis Draymond Green gave Coward praise on the recent episode of his podcast, stating he can be like Kawhi Leonard if he gets better with his ball handling. His game, pace, length, and defensive ability were some of the qualities that Green mentioned that already put Coward on a good trajectory to reach the status of the two-time champion Leonard.
The Grizzlies have been searching for a wing of his caliber since letting go of Dillon Brooks in the 2023 offseason. They were hopeful to find an upgrade that could provide similar defense but be more efficient on offense, and it appears they have found what they were looking for. Unfortunately, it took two years and trading away Desmond Bane to accomplish it.
However, the potential Coward possesses feels like a high-level player who could become the best player on a championship-level team. With a well-respected NBA champion already feeling like he can become that type of player, Coward is only scratching the surface of who the Grizzlies envisioned him to be when they traded up to select him in the draft this summer.