Ty Jerome will likely start at point guard on opening night, but Scotty Pippen Jr. should not be forgotten about going into this season. Pippen Jr. only appeared in 10 games before having season-ending surgery on his right big toe, and it's not a coincidence the Grizzlies' win total suffered. Now, Scotty Pippen Jr. has the chance to return and remind everyone of his impact.
It was a small sample size, but Scotty Pippen Jr. showed exactly what the Grizzlies were missing when he returned. In 10 games, Pippen Jr. averaged 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 stocks (steals and blocks) per game.
While Pippen Jr. didn't shoot very efficiently in his return, he still made a strong two-way impact that the Grizzlies will benefit from this season. The Grizzlies may not have a defined star guard following the Ja Morant trade, but they have plenty of players capable of solid minutes. Scotty Pippen Jr. is one of them.
Pippen Jr. gives the Grizzlies a bit of everything they need
While Scotty Pippen Jr. might not be a star, he is a glue guy that many teams need, especially the Grizzlies. Pippen Jr. gives the Grizzlies another reliable source of scoring and also provides plenty of playmaking as well. Plus, with a Grizzlies team that is trying to get tougher on the defensive end, Scotty Pippen Jr. instantly becomes more valuable to this year's team.
Pippen Jr. provides plenty of defensive playmaking and is a great POA defender despite being a smaller guard. It will be important for the Grizzlies to surround Cam Boozer, who was selected third overall, with as many quality two-way impact players as possible early on. Out of all the point guards on the roster, Pippen Jr. fits that perfectly.
The Grizzlies have a solid and underrated group of point guards, but Pippen Jr. is the best defender out of all them. Understandably, there will be conversations about his future considering he has a team option for 2027. However, Pippen Jr. looks ready to have a strong season based on his most recent performances in Memphis and could potentially be worth keeping around long-term.
It was a challenging season for the Grizzlies last year, but the Grizzlies are in the perfect position to start their rebuild. A core of Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Cam Boozer could help the Grizzlies challenge for the play-in tournament right away and could even make them a surprise playoff team in year 1.
But do not forget about the impact Scotty Pippen Jr. is capable of making when discussing the potential of the 2026-27 Grizzlies.
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