Cameron Boozer has officially chosen the jersey number he'll wear as he begins his NBA career, and the decision carries personal significance.
Cameron Boozer has officially chosen the jersey number he'll wear as he begins his NBA career, and the decision carries personal significance.
Boozer was selected No.3 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Draft. He will be a pivotal part of the franchise's rebuild. On July 15, the NBA published a sneak peek of the NBA Rookie Photoshoot on X.
The Memphis No.3 overall draft selection selected the No. 27 and explains what led to his selection. "My mom wore it in college; she played volleyball," Boozer said.
He added, "So why not honor my mom?"
Boozer in Memphis
Boozer played in the Salt Lake City Summer League, where he averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 25.5 minutes per game. He played two out of the three Summer League games in Salt Lake City.
Since being drafted, analysts have been saying the Memphis rookie will be the go-to player for the franchise, a steal in the draft, and the possible face of the franchise.
Brian Scalabrine, a former NBA player, expressed on July 6 on Sirius XM Radio that Boozer will be a go-to player. "He's going to help the team win," Scalabrine said on SiriusXM NBA Radio's July 6 episode. "He's not just a glue guy; he's actually going to be a player you can go to in certain situations. He's an excellent passer; he's not Jokić, but he has the ball in his hands, and you cut, it's a good chance you're going to get the ball."
Over the first three games in the Las Vegas Summer League, Boozer has averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, three assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting above 40 percent from the field.
New Era
Over the last decade, the franchise experienced the "Grit and Grind" era with Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen. The next era featured Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks, and Desmond Bane.
Jackson Jr., Brooks, and Bane were all traded from the franchise in recent years. Morant was the latest player to be traded on June 29 to the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, the 2026-27 season will be a new era for the franchise as they build around Boozer, Zach Edey, Jerami Grant, GG Jackson, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells.
The Grizzlies also drafted Karim López at No. 21 and Richie Saunders at No.32. On June 24, the organization acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons.
Memphis' next summer league game will be on July 16 at 8 p.m. EST on Amazon Prime against the Atlanta Hawks.
