ESPN believes Ty Jerome could crack its NBA top 100 next season if the Grizzlies guard can replicate his strong production from 2025-26.
Amid ESPN's release of its top 100 players for the 2026-27 NBA season, analysts Ben Golliver and Zach Kram took some time to show love to 10 players who could make the cut in the 2027-28 season.
A familiar face landed in that category for the Memphis Grizzlies: veteran guard Ty Jerome.
ESPN Believes Jerome Could Crack Top 100
Kram noted that Jerome had a strong season as a sixth man with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024-25 campaign and then looked even better last season with the Grizzlies in a limited sample size.
According to Kram, if Jerome can "even come close" to replicating last season's production in the upcoming campaign, he'll climb in ESPN's rankings.
The journeyman could be described as a late bloomer. His 2024-25 season with the Cavs really elevated his status in the NBA world, as he finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year race. He averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game that season while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from long range.
That was enough for him to land a three-year deal worth around $28 million with the Grizzlies last offseason.
Jerome Thrived in Limited Time With Memphis
While his debut season with Memphis was shortened to just 15 appearances due to injury, the returns were fantastic when he was healthy. He averaged 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per contest while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Jerome is in an interesting spot. Some feel like he doesn't exactly fit what Memphis has going on — he is 29 and may be entering his best years while the Grizzlies are at the start of a rebuild — but the team needs help at point guard. He and Scotty Pippen Jr. are in line to carry the weight at that position after the Ja Morant era came to an end this offseason.
Jerome's Future With Grizzlies Remains Unclear
For what it's worth, Jerome seems to have high hopes for Memphis this season. Earlier this offseason, he went as far as to say that the team has a playoff bid in mind. If he's looking that far ahead, he must believe there's a world where he sticks around for a while.
Grizzlies Roundtable, however, spoke to one NBA scout who expects Jerome to be traded before the deadline this season.
No matter what his future looks like, it sounds like he will have a chance to crack ESPN's top 100 next summer if he plays well in the year ahead.
