Cedric Coward has clearly established himself as one of the best rookies of the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite being selected 11th overall, he has a strong case for going top 5 in any hypothetical redraft. Coward did not participate in this year's Rising Stars Challenge due to injury, but he is already amongst the most respected rookies in the league.
Recently, Cedric Coward went on Kevin O'Connor's show for the first time since before the 2025 NBA Draft. It was an entertaining reflection on Coward's rookie season and gave a further glimpse of Coward's mindset as a pro. However, there is one quote in particular that should really excite Grizzlies fans.
Coward still has one big goal for the rest of the season
At the 27:29 mark, Cedric Coward was asked about one goal that he had for the rest of the season towards the end of his appearance on Kevin O'Connor's show. His exact answer can be seen below:
Cedric Coward on his goals for the remainder of his rookie season with the Grizzlies :
— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) February 16, 2026
“Just to keep getting better, man… To stamp not only my skills and development on the league, but also stamp our team on the league. Like understand, we may be going through whatever we’re… pic.twitter.com/5goAXbtAiR
Coward's answer stands out for multiple reasons. First, he is very self-aware of the improvements he needs to make. However, what stood out was how team-oriented the answer was and how committed he is to winning in Memphis immediately.
Even though the Grizzlies will likely lose plenty more games this year, Cedric Coward's continued improvement should keep the team competitive and could even lead to some surprise wins once he's back from injury.
Coward believes any rebuild should be fast
It is always daunting any time a fanbase hears the word "rebuild." Even though the Grizzlies started a rebuild with the Jackson Jr. trade, it is very possible that the team returns to winning much faster than most anticipate. One of the biggest reasons is Cedric Coward.
As a rookie, Coward is currently averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. While he did have some struggles before the All-Star break, it is clear that he's a significant floor raiser for the Grizzlies, even as a rookie. As he continues to improve as a creator off the dribble and becomes more consistent on defense, there is no doubt he will help Memphis win more games.
The Grizzlies have plenty of work to do, but the presence of a healthy Zach Edey and Cedric Coward continuing to improve should give the Grizzlies a much higher floor. While injuries have not favored the Grizzlies in recent years, they are in a prime position to increase the talent level on the roster.
Trading up on draft day to select Cedric Coward was a very ambitious move, but it was clearly the right one. While some might question how much the Grizzlies gave up, Cedric Coward has had a very successful rookie year, and he likely isn't done improving. Coward's latest interview should give plenty of hope to a Grizzlies' fanbase looking to believe again.