Cameron Boozer is getting attention in the Rookie of the Year race as his debut season approaches with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies newcomer Cameron Boozer might've been the the third player off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft, but he is some folks' top pick to be named the Rookie of the Year in the 2026-27 season.
Former Grizzlies executive John Hollinger, now a columnist at The Athletic, appears to be part of that crowd and believes Boozer's projected role will provide him with a key advantage.
"The No. 1 player on my draft board was also one of the best players at summer league," Hollinger wrote of Boozer. "While Boozer will face considerable competition from [AJ] Dybantsa and others, he has the advantage of not fighting established stars to be the top option. Dybantsa has to take his turn alongside [Trae] Young and [Anthony] Davis, while the Grizzlies’ rebuild has Boozer firmly established as the centerpiece."
Even though Boozer spent just one season at Duke before taking off for the league, he is seen by many as the most NBA-ready player in his draft class. That should help him in his Rookie of the Year quest, as the transition is one of the hardest parts.
At Duke, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from long range. That type of production is rare for any freshman, let alone a player in the ACC. He took home various Player of the Year honors and left no doubt that he was going to be one of the top picks in the draft.
Then, in Summer League play with the Grizzlies, he continued to impress. He didn't take it easy at all, playing a whopping eight games between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas as Memphis tried to take home the Summer League crown. The push fell short, but he averaged 18.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from deep.
When it comes to the Rookie of the Year race, Boozer's role with Memphis should also help, as Hollinger noted. For better or worse, the 19-year-old is likely to get thrown into the fire as a top option on the 2026-27 Grizzlies. That will force him to quickly adapt and produce, so it's a good thing that he's seen as an NBA-ready prospect.
While there are sure to be growing pains along the way, it's easy to see a scenario where Boozer gets his footing early on as a rookie and puts together a great season. That would be a fantastic outcome for Memphis and the big man himself, who has said he is trying to bring the Grizzlies back to "where they once were."
Whether it happens quickly or takes some time, Boozer could be the piece that sparks a turnaround in Memphis.
