The Memphis Grizzlies still have two of the top rookies in the NBA but their rankings in the NBA.com Kia Rooke Ladder continue to slip. Albeit, Zach Edey has been out with an ankle injury for the last week so his ranking was bound to slip but what about Jaylen Wells?
Jaylen Wells falls to number three
The now-starting small forward for the Grizzlies has continued to produce for the team as evidenced by him getting the starting nod over presumed veteran Marcus Smart. Wells averaged 15 points on 60% shooting from the field and 50% from three while guarding the opponent's best perimeter offensive player over the Grizzlies' last three games since the previous rankings.
This includes a head-to-head battle with the remaining number one ranked, Jared McCain, in which he scored 14 points against his 20 points in 12 fewer minutes played in their matchup. Also, Jaylen Wells notched a career-high in scoring (26 points), assists (six), and made threes (six) against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, becoming the first rookie in the franchise's history to produce that stat line.
If you aren’t including Jaylen Wells in your most impressive rookie convos you’re doing it wrong. He’s 6-10 from three tonight. pic.twitter.com/BRQivUQEFY
— Jessica Benson (@jessbensontv) November 24, 2024
However, a five-point performance following that in his first game being named the starter over a healthy Marcus Smart might have been enough for him to drop to three, falling beneath the trending Stephon Castle. The San Antonio Spurs had a 3-0 week and are on a four-game winning streak overall with Castle playing a huge role as a starter.
Wells hasn't been ranked less than third in any of the four iterations of the Kia Rookie Ladder and this is his first time at three since the first rankings. Now as the official starter at small forward for the Grizzlies, he will have a chance to remain in the conversation for best rookie as long as he keeps up his level of play and the Grizzlies continue to win.
Zach Edey's injury status
The Grizzlies rookie big man suffered a left ankle sprain in last Sunday's contest against the Denver Nuggets and has remained out with a week-to-week designation, missing the team's last four games and is ruled out for tonight's matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
Edey fell outside the top five (eighth) of the Kia Rookie Ladder for the first time after ranking first, second, and fifth, respectively, in the first three iterations of the rankings. Edey's injury status hasn't been updated since last Tuesday but the 7'4" center has the stats that will keep him in the running with a return that is expected to be sooner rather than later.