Cameron Boozer didn’t spend long finding his footing in Las Vegas. Six games in, the Grizzlies’ No. 3 overall pick is averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and Memphis will play for the Summer League title tonight against the Golden State Warriors (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Friday’s performance was his best yet: 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting (77%) with 7 rebounds as the Grizzlies blew out the Atlanta Hawks to clinch a semifinal berth.
More than just scoring
The son of former NBA big man Carlos Boozer has drawn attention for his two-way game. At 6-foot-9, he reads defenses before they set, rotates without the ball and puts his body on opponents who outweigh him. His debut against the Chicago Bulls – 23 points (7-of-12 FG), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block – set the tone early. He hasn’t scored fewer than 12 in any game since.
Sports Illustrated described him as “already showing star potential,” pointing to his feel for the game as the trait hardest to teach at any level.
Memphis built around him
Boozer isn’t carrying this alone. Guard Javon Small erupted for 26 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists when Memphis dismantled Golden State 106-85 in group play – the same Warriors team waiting tonight. Memphis shot 17-of-32 from three that game and built a 27-point lead.
The Grizzlies enter the championship with momentum, and their shooting numbers suggest the Warriors will need a significant performance to flip this result.
The bigger picture in Memphis
Ja Morant was traded to Portland this offseason. The page has turned. Memphis is building around Boozer and a new generation of young talent, and the franchise’s direction hinges on how quickly its centerpiece develops into a go-to option at both ends.
A summer league championship won’t define a career, or even a season. But it matters as a signal – this group competes, and Boozer is already setting the standard.
He’s 19. Based on what Las Vegas has seen, the rebuild in Memphis might not take as long as expected.
Bottom line: Cameron Boozer is the real deal. Small sample, summer league caveats apply – but his efficiency, playmaking and defensive awareness at this stage are hard to fake.
Sources: Yahoo Sports | Sports Illustrated | NBA.com
