After finishing 25-57 and trading Jaren Jackson Jr. before the trade deadline, this was not close to the season that Grizzlies fans hoped for. But one thing must be made clear: the Grizzlies nailed the Cedric Coward pick and have a legit building block in him. His on-court production for a rookie was impressive, but more fans must celebrate his willingness to step into a big leadership role already.
The Grizzlies had their exit interviews today as they enter one of the most pivotal offseasons in team history. There is plenty to focus on as far as Morant's future and the roster construction going forward. However, Cedric Coward's answers should be amongst the most notable developments of exit interviews.
Coward had many impressive answers throughout his exit interview, but there is one that should really stand out to Grizzlies fans. He had the following to say about becoming a leader:
Cedric Coward: "We have tenured guys, but I think anybody can be a leader with actions and voice. Action means something to me.
— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) April 13, 2026
The actions I present and the way I move will pour into everyone.
Becoming a leader has always been something I've done and I'm not gonna stop now."
Coward's maturity is already impressive for a rookie
It will be essential for the Grizzlies to find the right veterans to support their young talent as the team continues to rebuild. But Grizzlies fans should love seeing Cedric Coward want to step up as a leader despite how challenging this season was. His words were also a very good challenge for other Grizzlies' young pieces to step up and lead.
The Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft after an ambitious trade-up, but it was not an easy adventure for Coward to get to that point. Coward started his college basketball career at Division III Willamette University before playing under David Riley at Eastern Washington University and Washington State University.
Coward suffered a season-ending shoulder injury just six games into his final college basketball season, which also caused him to miss his rookie Summer League campaign later on. That did not stop him from having a strong combine and choosing to stay in the draft over going to Duke.
Coward's rise from Division III to a lottery pick should also inspire hope that he can follow a similar trajectory in a Grizzlies uniform.
Leadership will define the next rebuild in Memphis
One of the main tools I will use to judge the success of this new rebuild is how effective Zach Kleiman is in bringing in the right veterans. Following a very successful 2021-22 season, sacrificing experience put the team in the wrong direction, and the core three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane were not able to overcome it.
Even though getting someone like Taj Gibson is a good step in getting more positive voices outside the organization, a lot of the leadership must come from within. Grizzlies fans should be encouraged by the fact that Cedric Coward already wants to lead by example on and off the court.
The Grizzlies have plenty of work to do to become a championship-level team, but Cedric Coward can be one of the key pieces to get them closer to that goal.
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