Good things always seem to happen to the Grizzlies when Cedric Coward is on the floor. Selected 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cedric Coward is already making a significant impact after just five games. The Grizzlies made a bold decision to move up and give up multiple assets to select Coward, but it is shaping up to be one of the best decisions the franchise has made recently.
Cedric Coward was playing Division III basketball at Willamette University just a few years ago, and now he is already one of the breakout rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft. Cedric Coward could not play in the Summer League due to his recovery from shoulder surgery. Despite the missed time, Coward is playing like someone who has been in the league for years.
Cedric Coward was rusty offensively in the preseason and was missing many shots, especially from three. That hasn't been the case so far in the regular season, and he has already been one of the most efficient rookies. In just five games, Coward is averaging 16 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Most importantly, he has outrageous shooting splits of 65.1/64.7/92.7 and an impressive 81.4 TS% so far.
Even though it is a small sample size and Coward's shooting percentages will certainly regress, it is encouraging to see Coward be able to score in so many different ways. Coward is an effective scorer at the rim, and his jump shot could become a real asset for the team. The Grizzlies have been looking for a high-level scoring forward for years, and they may have found their answer in Cedric Coward.
Coward's closing minutes in Phoenix solidified his case
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is currently one of the Grizzlies' five starters, but the minutes distribution in the Grizzlies' win over the Suns was very telling. Caldwell-Pope played just 18 minutes, while Cedric Coward played 28 minutes and was impactful in the closing lineup. Coward hit a crucial three late and grabbed the defensive rebound that led to Ja Morant's game-winner.
The Grizzlies have a strong wing rotation between Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but Coward looks like the best scorer and has shown promise on defense. Coward defended Devin Booker well in the 4th quarter, even though Booker was hitting tough shots. As a rookie, Coward is already gaining the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates in clutch spots.
Cedric Coward's upside was evident in the pre-draft process, but he is making an impact much sooner than expected. The first five games have produced mixed results for the Grizzlies, but a major positive that has emerged is that Coward could start soon. Even as the team continues to get healthier throughout the season, Cedric Coward is very close to cementing himself as a starter in Memphis.