Truthfully, the main focus of the Rookie of the Year race was whether or not Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel would win the award. Cooper Flagg ended up winning the award, but the story for the Grizzlies is Cedric Coward getting a third-place vote. Cedric Coward secured a top 5 finish in the Rookie of the Year race and further proved that the Grizzlies nailed the pick.
Last summer, the Grizzlies traded up to the 11th overall pick and selected Cedric Coward following an impressive draft combine. Even though there were concerns about how much the Grizzlies gave up to select him, Coward had a sensational rookie season and is a strong building block for the Grizzlies going forward.
Cedric Coward exceeded expectations as a rookie
In 62 games, Cedric Coward averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Coward did not appear in Summer League since he had not fully recovered from shoulder surgery. Despite a shaky offensive preseason, it did not take long for Cedric Coward to become a starter and show off his two-way potential.
It is clear that the 2025 NBA Draft should have plenty of players that will be good for a long time. What makes Coward's top 5 finish in the Rookie of the Year race even more impressive is that the rest of the names above him were the top 4 picks of the 2025 NBA Draft. It was easy to see why the Grizzlies liked him in the draft, but Coward made a stronger rookie impact than most expected.
Cedric Coward also joins Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey as recent Grizzlies who finished in the top 5 in Rookie of the Year voting. The Grizzlies have dealt with some adversity in recent seasons, but their young talent should inspire confidence, especially Cedric Coward.
This is a great sign for Cedric Coward making the All-Rookie First Team
A common concern for Grizzlies fans is that Cedric Coward could potentially be left off of the NBA All-Rookie First Team due to playing fewer minutes compared to other top rookies. Despite that concern, Cedric Coward receiving a third-place vote is a sign that his strong rookie year did not go unnoticed. There is a higher likelihood that Cedric Coward will get the first team recognition he deserves.
A fun fact that should now encourage Grizzlies fans is that every rookie since 2020 that finished top 5 in the Rookie of the Year vote ended up making All-Rookie First Team. Despite Cedric Coward dealing with some injuries and minute restrictions, his winning impact was already on display as a rookie. It just further adds to the excitement of the type of player Coward can still evolve into past this season.
The Grizzlies will have plenty of work to do this summer, but the team should feel great about nailing the Cedric Coward pick. At worst, Coward should be a reliable role player for a long time, but it cannot be counted out that he evolves into the next Grizzlies star.
Add us as a preferred source on Google