Training camp has wrapped up for the Memphis Grizzlies after spending three days on Belmont University's campus in Nashville, Tennessee. They now head home to prepare for their first preseason game against the Detroit Pistons, but not without newsworthy praise of their rookie lottery pick from June's NBA Draft.
Cedric Coward was the only player on the Grizzlies' injury update status last week who was fully cleared to return to the court to practice with the team, and has already turned heads with his presence. The rookie has received praise from the coaching staff and teammates, including Scotty Pippen Jr., who regarded him as one of the best lottery picks he has ever seen.
While the hype around the Grizzlies' rookie continues to grow, the fans will get to see him soon to make their official judgment of what he can provide to the team in his rookie year.
The Grizzlies' wing rotation appears to be in good hands
While talking about Cedric Coward, Scotty Pippen Jr. also boasted about the Grizzlies' defensive intensity with their full-court pressure. Coward has made impressions on the defensive end with his 7'2" wingspan that figures to be his calling card for his rookie season as he develops on the offensive end.
His competitive nature can make it easy to forget that he hasn't played in an organized basketball game since November 2024. A torn rotator cuff cut Coward's last college season short at Washington State, and limited him this summer as he was unavailable to play with the Grizzlies' summer league team.
The last rookie lottery pick the Grizzlies selected, who wasn't able to take part in their summer league, was Ja Morant. Not saying Coward will follow the trajectory of the Grizzlies' superstar point guard, but the aura around him makes his potential seem endless for what he could bring on both ends of the court at one of the game's most important positions.
With Jaylen Wells returning from starting 74 games as a rookie in a 3-and-D role, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joining the team after winning two NBA championships as a starting shooting guard in recent seasons, Coward will likely begin his rookie season coming off the bench. However, the opportunity will be there for him to make a name for himself as a key rotational wing in Tuomas Iisalo's system.
Cedric Coward is days away from playing his first NBA game, and the Grizzlies fanbase can't wait to see if all the hype will translate to the court early in his playing career.