Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. issues statement on Rising Stars Challenge

Despite being amid such a lowly season and seeing the vast majority of their core players sidelined due to injuries, the Memphis Grizzlies were still found being represented at this year's All-Star Weekend, with wing Vince Williams Jr. taking part in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge.

An exhibition devoted to promising G League talents along with first and second-year players scattered across the association, the sophomore wing served as an injury replacement for New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels.

Visibly jubilant heading into the event, even though he only registered eight minutes of action during Team Tamika's semifinal loss to Team Jalen, the festivities seemingly lived up to Williams' expectations, as he relayed to reporters during his post-tournament presser just how much fun the experience proved to be.

Grizzlies wing Vince Williams Jr. talks Rising Stars Challenge experience

"It was fun. [The] energy changed late in the game. I had a good time. Fun teammates. [We] got to compete a little bit at the end of the game. [I] got to see what the All-Stars felt like."

- Vince Williams Jr.

Williams would finish the game with a stat-line of 3 points, 2 assists, and, unsurprising considering his defensive nature, a steal while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor.

Of course, as these star-studded exhibitions typically go, the wing's numbers were far from indicative of what he provides for the Grizzlies on a nightly basis.

As the opening announcements from the affair correctly highlighted, Williams has established himself as "a 3-and-D wing with no off switch" during his second season in the league and, since becoming a regular starter within Memphis's rotation back in early January, he has posted averages of 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and half a block while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from distance.

With his play, he not only managed to earn the moniker of "Rising Star," but he also netted himself a standard, multi-year deal with the Grizzlies.

At just 23 years old, the future seems to be incredibly bright for the likes of Vince Williams Jr.