The NBA's All-Star weekend is just a few weeks away and, recently, both the starting lineups for the illustrious exhibition as well as the rosters for the annual Rising Stars Challenge were released to the public. Interestingly enough, neither saw a member of the Memphis Grizzlies included.
While there's still a chance that a Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. could make their way into the Western Conference arsenal as a reserve option, what has seemingly drawn the most attention within the Grind City community is that none of the youngsters found within coach Taylor Jenkins' rotation were selected to the Rookie vs. Sophomore bout.
During a recent episode of The Jessica Benson Show, host Jessica Benson sounded off on the lacking representation of the Grizzlies franchise heading into the Rising Stars outing, and deemed it as a level of "disrespect" that second-year wing Vince Williams Jr. wasn't voted onto the sophomore roster.
Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr.'s omission is sign of 'disrespect'
"I would legitimately have Vince Williams Jr. on the sophomore pool... You talk about games played, Vince Williams Jr. has played 36 games. He's started 17, he's an NBA starter and you don't want to put him on your Rising Stars sophomore list. What a disrespect to the rest of the league. My God."Jessica Benson
Of the bunch who currently find themselves gearing up for the February 16 showing, Benson would go on to say that guys like New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels and Portland Trail Blazers stud Shaedon Sharpe could all arguably be pulled for Williams Jr.
.@Vincentwiliams is your @IntlPaperCo player of the game⤵️ pic.twitter.com/rN4dSTmWnI
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 28, 2024
Now in his second-year with the Grizzlies, the wing finds himself posting highly impressive averages of 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and just shy of a steal per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the floor.
However, it has been his play since the new year that has caught the attention of fans, media, and his peers alike as he has posted stellar averages of 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and just shy of a block while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor and 46.9 percent from deep during this span.
It is because of these efforts that Williams earned a new full-time contract with the ball club and has many within the fanbase believing him to hold similar capabilities to that of franchise legend, Tony Allen.
Though he may not have been selected to the game's roster, among Grizzlies faithful it's safe to say that Vince Williams Jr. is considered to be one of the brightest rising stars the club currently has to offer.