The Grizzlies entered training camp last season without a clear option to back up Ja Morant at the point guard position. Derrick Rose announced his retirement less than a week before media day, so the team quickly pivoted to their next best option in their organization, Scotty Pippen Jr.
Pippen Jr. signed with the Grizzlies on a two-way contract in January 2024 after a successful G League run with the South Bay Lakers (Los Angeles Lakers G League affiliate), and impressed the team enough to sign him to the active roster in October 2024. He became more reliable than initially thought as Morant missed 32 regular-season games to injury.
After being the Grizzlies' most reliable player in terms of games played last season (79), Scotty Pippen Jr.'s value rose during the team's postseason play. With Jaylen Wells out due to injury, and no confidence in GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. following an injury-filled season for both, Pippen Jr. entered the starting lineup as the team's best healthy perimeter defender remaining.
He showed his value as a defender and scorer, especially after Ja Morant went down to injury in their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the team moving on from Desmond Bane this offseason, Scotty Pippen Jr.'s role will increase this upcoming season.
Could Scotty Pippen Jr. become a Sixth Man of the Year candidate?
The Grizzlies signed last season's Sixth Man of the Year finalist, Ty Jerome, to add additional shooting and ball handling to their backcourt. They also re-signed leading bench scorer Santi Aldama, who was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate before a late-season calf injury eliminated him from contention for the award.
Scotty Pippen Jr. was the team's second-leading bench scorer, averaging just under 10 points last season. Without Desmond Bane's 20 points per game average, the team will need as many scorers from the others not named Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. as possible. The addition of Jerome will help in that department, but Pippen Jr.'s defensive prowess will keep him in the fold.
After missing one of his very few games due to injury, Scotty Pippen Jr. ended the regular season scoring at least 10 points in 11 of his last 12 games (four starts). He then proceeded to score at least 13 points in five of his six postseason starts, including 28 and 30 points in the Grizzlies' final two games of their first-round series against the Thunder.
The Grizzlies had the NBA's second-best scoring bench last season, and will look to take over the top spot this season. Scotty Pippen Jr. will play an integral part in that and might even vie for closing lineups as he continues to develop into one of the team's best two-way players.