There haven't been many positives for Grizzlies fans, but Jaylen Wells is making the offensive leap that was expected before the season. It has been a very inconsistent sophomore season offensively for Wells, but he is playing his best offensive basketball lately, and it deserves more discussion.
Jaylen Wells took the league by storm as a rookie despite being selected 39th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. After just five games, Wells was inserted in the starting lineup and did not lose his starting spot. Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 79 games, ultimately finishing third in the Rookie of the Year race and making the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In the immediate aftermath of the Desmond Bane trade, one of the biggest implications was that Jaylen Wells would be in line for an increased role offensively.
This hasn't been an easy season for Wells at times
Jaylen Wells had his rookie season ended by a scary fall on a transition dunk attempt when he was fouled by KJ Simpson in midair. Wells ended up with a broken right wrist, which could be a potential explanation for his inconsistent shooting in Summer League and this regular season.
It has not always been easy for Wells to find his shot consistently this season, but his offensive growth is on display despite the Grizzlies' recent run of losing. For the season, Wells is averaging 12.8 points per game, which is a 2.4-point increase from his rookie year. His shooting splits are almost identical when looking at eFG% and three-point shooting, even though he has struggled at times.
His latest run of games should encourage Grizzlies fans
The biggest sign of Wells making growth as an offensive player is the way he has performed after the All-Star break. Last season, Wells proved himself as a reliable shooter early on, averaging 11.2 points per game and shooting 37% from three before the All-Star game. However, he cooled off significantly after the All-Star game, and his scoring average dipped to 8.7 points per game, while shooting just 30% from three.
This year has been the exact opposite situation, as Wells has shot better as the season progresses. Since the All-Star game, Wells is averaging 15.8 points per game on 49.3/41.9/88.5 shooting splits. Even though the Grizzlies have been losing most of their games, Wells is finally showing the offense fans hoped for. Beyond getting his jump shot back, Wells is also looking more comfortable finishing at the rim.
The Grizzlies are in the beginning stages of their rebuild, but it is increasingly obvious that Wells needs to be a long-term piece. Despite a slow start and inconsistent shooting throughout the season, Wells has shown that he can be a quality offensive player in Memphis for years to come.