The Grizzlies paved the perfect path to development when they drafted Ja Morant in the 2019 NBA Draft. They signed a young, but experienced, point guard in Tyus Jones that summer to aid in the development of Morant's beginning in his NBA career. Six years later, the Grizzlies might have upgraded with Scotty Pippen Jr.
The Grizzlies' current backup point guard is coming off his first full season as a full-time rostered player after beginning his career as an undrafted two-way signee. He averaged just under 10 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 21.3 minutes in the 79 games he played (21 starts). His tenacity on defense earned him recognition in NBA 2K's top ratings in steals, ranking ninth with a 90 rating in the category.
While gaining that type of recognition is warranted for the former Vanderbilt Commodores guard, the hype around his late-season performance continues to grow within the Grizzlies' fanbase. He has quickly helped the fanbase move forward from a former fan favorite who played his same role before his emergence.
Scotty Pippen Jr. is making a case as best backup PG in franchise history
The backup point guard position has always been important to the Grizzlies' fanbase and was a huge topic of discussion before last season. Scotty Pippen Jr. signed with the team on a two-way contract in January 2024 and earned a roster spot during the team's preseason slate in October 2024. With Marcus Smart on the roster, talk of him being the backup point guard as a starter was discussed, but Pippen Jr. made himself undeniable.
Tyus Jones provided the Grizzlies with stability at the backup point guard position, leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio in all four seasons with the Grizzlies (2020-2023). His steadiness was relied upon as a starter quite a bit as well, but he had certain faults that were hard to overlook when compared to Scotty Pippen Jr.
The upside of Pippen Jr.'s defense and scoring ability makes him a more dynamic player and will likely increase the team's chances of becoming a contender in that role. Jones was a better true point guard, but his defense was a liability, and the league has transitioned to players who can play multiple positions.
The Grizzlies gained a positive net rating of 11.1 with lineups consisting of Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ja Morant last season, and Pippen Jr. answered the call when he was added to the starting lineup for the team's final six games (play-in tournament and playoffs). He was tasked with being the team's primary perimeter defender, but averaged nearly 16 points in those six postseason games as well.
The elevation of Scotty Pippen Jr.'s game is a huge development for the Grizzlies that has been overlooked by the national media. However, the Grizzlies' fanbase knows, and NBA 2K recognized it, too.