Grizzlies wing believes he can be much needed 'spark'

The Memphis Grizzlies are a team in rotational disarray, as they find themselves with numerous positions in need of some answers.

Easily their biggest need resides at the three spot, as there has been a glaring vacancy in this area since the departure of long-tenured starter Dillon Brooks this past offseason.

Though coach Taylor Jenkins has experimented with the position throughout these early stages of the campaign, rolling out varying lineups involving different talents at the wing with the latest player being David Roddy, to this point, they have yet to find a reliable option to slot in on a consistent basis.

As things currently stand, it's anyone's guess who will be next in line to take on a significant role at the wing slot, meaning anybody on the roster has a fair shot at receiving significant playing time.

Recently signed Jaylen Nowell seems to be itching for his chance to shine if given such an opportunity, as he recently vocalized to Grind City Media's Michael Wallace what his teammates and the fanbase should expect from him moving forward.

Jaylen Nowell says he can provide a 'spark' for Memphis Grizzlies

"Well, they call me a bucket. I score the ball. I score the ball at all three levels. That's what I do. I'll just come off the bench and just provide that spark. Bring high energy, scoring, defending, just making sure that I do whatever to provide and get wins."

- Jaylen Nowell on role with Grizzlies

Signed to a 10-day contract back on November 24, a fifth-year pro, Nowell has proven himself to be a highly capable wing contributor in the NBA, particularly when it comes to the offensive side of the ball.

Spending his first four seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, since 2020-21 the 24-year-old has posted impressive per-game averages of 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and half a steal while shooting 45.0 percent shooting from the field.

Thus far into his tenure with the Grizzlies he has seen just three games of action, though only two found him registering over 10 minutes and, in said outings, finished with a positive plus-minus rating of +5 and +4, respectively, while averaging 2.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists along the way.

As he gets more familiar with the system and his teammates, the hope is that his innate athleticism and bucket-getter mentality will shine on through and, in turn, earn him an extended stay in the 38103 come the conclusion of his 10-day.

Based on his sit down with Wallace, it appears Nowell is confident in his chances of showing his worth with the wing-needed Grizzlies.