Grizzlies’ Rookies Breakout in Blowout of Bucks

On By Littum

A few seasons ago, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the best up-and-coming teams in the league, led by Ja Morant and his plethora of talented role players. But for the past few seasons, the organization has instead spent time gathering talent via the NBA Draft.

Now, in the 2024-25 regular season, the team is simply trying to evaluate the talent of its current roster and figure out where to go from here. Fortunately, there has been reason for optimism.

The season has been up-and-down for the Grizzlies so far, but on Friday they left no doubt as they blew out the Milwaukee Bucks, 122-99, behind Morant’s 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.

But the high-flyer wouldn’t be the only player to get fans excited.

Memphis started two rookies, Zach Edey at center and Jaylen Wells at forward, and was still able to come away with the win.

With Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, GG Jackson and more out of the lineup, the team took a risk by starting Wells, but it quickly paid off. In 36 minutes, the Washington State one-and-done was able to score 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting, hit 50% of its threes and add seven rebounds and one assist.

Through just a handful of games, the 39th selected Wells slots in the Washington lottery pick Bub Carrington in points per. game with 9.5.

Edey, the team’s No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, also had a decent game, adding 10 points and eight rebounds with one steal and one block each. The former Boilermaker hasn’t quite lived up to his potential yet as a 7-foot-4 behemoth, but has shown improvement even in just the last few games.

That the Grizzlies are able to get production this early from their newcomer is a strong sign of things to come. Especially with beating a team as seasoned as Milwaukee.

If Memphis can get key players back from injury while continuing to develop its young core, it could rise faster in the Western Conference than previously expected.

For now, the team sits at 3-3, with a game against the Philadelphia 76ers coming up on Saturday, November 2nd.

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