Isaiah Stewart praised Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer after watching the No. 3 pick compete and practice during NBA Summer League.
The NBA regular season starts in nine weeks and four days. On Oct. 21, the Memphis Grizzlies will host the Utah Jazz, marking the start of the Cameron Boozer era in Memphis, and he already has Isaiah Stewart's support.
Boozer, the No.3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, will enter the league with significant expectations after a standout freshman season at Duke. Now his development will be closely watched as Memphis begins a new chapter with Boozer, who will be the face of the franchise.
The Duke product recently received praise from Isaiah Stewart, who was acquired by the Grizzlies in the offseason. Stewart spoke about his observations on the rookie and what he sees thus far.
"I got a chance to watch him in Summer League and see how he operates, how he practices, and I think he's tough man, "said Stewart via Andscape. "He's very versatile, and he has a frame as an 18-year-old. He's going to be a problem," he added.
Boozer Backs Up The Hype In Summer League
Boozer averaged 18 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field in the Salt Lake City Summer League.
On the flip side, he averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the Las Vegas Summer League. He was one of the most consistent players throughout the summer and helped lead the team to a championship, earning him All-Summer League First-Team honors.
The Memphis rookie may not have the flashiest game compared to forward AJ Dybantsa or guard Darryn Peterson, but he is confident in his skill set. He will enter the season with a chip on his shoulder due to being taken third overall.
Not to mention, Boozer received his rookie rating from Ronnie2K, who is the head of lifestyle and content marketing for the video game franchise. Despite being taken third, he received the rating of 79, which is tied with forward AJ Dybantsa and guard Darryn Peterson.
Once Ronnie2K revealed Boozer's rating, he smiled and joked that NBA 2K tends to do rookies "dirty" when it comes to first-year ratings. When asked how his rating would look this time next year for NBA 2K28, he believes that he will be in the mid-to-high 80s.
Grizzlies Give Boozer Time To Grow Outside National Spotlight
The Grizzlies will have two national television games, with the first coming against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 18 as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) on Peacock. The second game will be against the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 6 on Amazon Prime.
While Memphis will only play two nationally televised games, Boozer will be able to develop without having his morale impacted.
Often, younger teams can be scheduled for too many televised games, and when they are blown out, it can impact team morale, affect player development, or cause frustration with the fan base.
Boozer has received praise from NBA legends such as Brian Scalabrine and Draymond Green. Stewart is the latest teammate to speak on the rookie's potential.
