In another season full of injuries to the Grizzlies rotation, Jaylen Wells continues to remain a constant within their rotation. Of the Grizzlies' 37 games played this season, Jaylen Wells is one of only two players (Scotty Pippen Jr. is the other) to play in all games.
Of the Grizzlies' 37 games played, Jaylen Wells has been a starter for 32 games. After coming off the bench for his first five career games, injuries to Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane opened the door for Wells to become a starter and he hasn't relinquished the role since.
As a second-round draft pick, Jaylen Wells is accomplishing something only three active NBA players have and is on track to pass those players' status.
Only 8 players have started more as second-rounders
Not only have eight second-round draft picks started more games than Jaylen Wells has so far during his rookie season, but only eight players have started more games as rookies for playoff teams. The only other active players to start more games than Jaylen Wells as a second-round rookie are New Orleans Pelicans wing Herbert Jones (69 games) in 2021, Toronto Raptors wing Bruce Brown (56 games for the Detroit Pistons) in 2018, and Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (40 games) in 2021.
If Jaylen Wells doesn't suffer an injury, rests for a game, or gets replaced in the starting lineup he will start 77 games this season which would place him third on the list behind only Mario Chalmers (82 games) and Landry Fields (81 games). Along with Herbert Jones, Bruce Brown, Ayo Dosunmu, Mario Chalmers, and Landry Fields, other players he currently trails are Chris Duhon (73 games), Rodions Kurucs (46 games), and Luis Scola (39 games).
The Grizzlies' rookie second-rounder is coming off a week in which he scored a career-high in points (30) on a career-high seven made threes in his return to his hometown against the Sacramento Kings last Friday. He also secured his first career double-double in last night's win against the Dallas Mavericks which included a career-high in rebounds with 11 to go along with 17 points.
He is currently fourth in the NBA Rookie of the Year odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at +750, only trailing his teammate Zach Edey (+150), Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr (+250), and New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (+600). Jaylen Wells' recent successful week shows that he doesn't plan to go the opposite direction of the race and the Grizzlies are grateful for it as they await the return of their additional young wings from injury.