The Grizzlies' season ended with a first-round playoff series sweep to the Oklahoma City Thunder after a 117-115 loss in Game 4 on Saturday. They competed for the full 48 minutes with the Thunder without star guard Ja Morant, who was ruled out with a hip contusion suffered in the first half of Game 3.
Without their starting point guard and leading scorer, the team needed a spark from someone following their blown 29-point lead that resulted in a Game 3 loss. All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled from the field, finishing with 12 points on 3-12 shooting in game 4, making you think the final score wouldn't have been close.
However, an unsung hero emerged for the Grizzlies in Scotty Pippen Jr., who produced a double-double and led the team in scoring in each of their last two games of the series. His production made light out of what was otherwise a brutal series for the team in all facets.
Scotty Pippen Jr. is part of the Grizzlies' future
Shortly after Ja Morant's season ended with shoulder surgery in January 2024, Memphis signed Pippen Jr. to a two-way contract. He proceeded to average 12.9 points and 4.7 assists in 21 games played through the end of last season.
After a successful summer league with the Grizzlies and a retirement announcement from Derrick Rose, Pippen Jr. was signed to a standard contract with the team in mid-October at an average of $2.4M per season for four years. The contract was met with the expectation to play backup point guard to Ja Morant.
While some argued whether he'd consistently get the opportunity to produce with Marcus Smart on the roster, Pippen Jr. became one of the most durable players, playing 79 games with only one game missed due to injury. He started 21 games and was the second leading scorer off the bench, while his defensive intensity made Marcus Smart expendable.
When the lights were the brightest, an injury to rookie small forward Jaylen Wells opened the door to Pippen Jr. starting all five of the Grizzlies' postseason games as the team's primary perimeter defender.
His effort was rewarded when he finished his last two games of the season with 28 points and 30 points, respectively, to cement his status as one of the Grizzlies' core pieces for the next few seasons on a bargain contract. Along with rookies Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer, and young wings GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., Pippen Jr. showed his value in big moments that will likely be utilized when the moment comes back around for the Grizzlies.