Scotty Pippen Jr. was arguably one of the Grizzlies' best performers in the playoffs last season against the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a solid season last year, Pippen Jr. was expected to be a crucial piece for the 2025-26 Grizzlies. Unfortunately, Pippen Jr. has missed most of the season for toe surgery, but his recent return has been a huge boost for the Grizzlies.
Pippen Jr. has played just seven games so far since coming back. So far he is averaging 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 20 minutes per game. Most impressively, he is averaging 2.4 steals per game and has been very disruptive as a defender. Given that he has been minute restricted, he has done well even though he is a bit rusty on offense.
The Grizzlies badly missed Pippen Jr.'s energy
Beyond stats, it is clear that Pippen Jr. plays with the tenacity that Grizzlies fans love to see. Against the Kings on February 23, Pippen Jr. had a sequence where he had four straight steals on four straight possessions. While he did not have his best offensive game and the Grizzlies ended up losing, his defense has been a major asset for keeping the team alive in games.
The ejection in Miami due to his altercation with Myron Gardner was arguably the highlight moment of Pippen Jr.'s season so far. Since Dillon Brooks left, the Grizzlies have lacked an enforcer and need more players that embody grit and grind. Pippen Jr. showed in that moment that he won't get pushed around and that he is willing to protect himself and his teammates.
His offense should improve the rest of the way
Pippen Jr. has not shot as well from three so far this season, shooting just 33.1%. However, this is likely due to offensive rust, and his outside shooting should improve as the season goes on. Pippen Jr. has looked very comfortable as a playmaker and is still giving the Grizzlies reliable scoring in short periods of time. It is very reasonable to believe that the Grizzlies would have more wins if he was available sooner.
As Pippen Jr. gets more comfortable and is eventually off his minute restriction, it is very likely that he will end up being a consistently reliable scoring presence. His stable offense paired with his defensive ability makes him one of the more valuable players on the current roster. As the Grizzlies rebuild, they need more high-end talent, but they will need more players like Pippen Jr. that can make an impact on both ends.
Ja Morant's future remains unclear past this season, and the Grizzlies will likely draft their future franchise point guard this summer. However, Pippen Jr. should continue to remain a key piece of the team past this season.