Memphis Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer Ranked 76th-Best NBA Player in Year 1

Bleacher Report believes Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer is the 76th-best player in the NBA in Year 1. 

Boozer is one spot ahead of Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks and one spot behind former Grizzlies star Ja Morant, who was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason. 

Boozer was the first underclassman to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a season since Larry Bird in 1976-77.

Boozer won the Player of the Year award last season in college. The Duke forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 78.9% from the free-throw line.

In Summer League, Boozer played well, averaging 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 45.2% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 77.3% from the free-throw line.

The youngster made the Summer League First Team and led Memphis to the championship game, a contest the Golden State Warriors won. 

Selected third overall in the 2026 draft behind AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, Boozer is expected to be a day-one starter for the Grizzlies this season alongside Coward, last season's All-Rookie First Team selection.

Boozer's combination of playmaking, physicality and positional flexibility as a 6-foot-10 forward has drawn comparisons to the multi-skilled roster construction that defined the New York Knicks' 2025-26 championship approach, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.   

“Versatility is the name of the game. That’s what teams are looking for,” Boozer told The Athletic. “Teams want five guys who can make plays. Look at the Knicks this year. Everyone on that team was capable of doing more than one thing. Everyone was capable of playing on or off the basketball. That’s what I feel like I can do best. I can screen. I can handle it. You can put me in a lot of different scenarios.”

The Grizzlies may be fun to watch this season, but they will likely be a lottery team.

However, in the long run, that's good so that the front office can acquire more talent around Boozer in future drafts. 

It's not simply a matter of Boozer's production. We also have to look at how he's producing:

And that's where his short-term projection gets awfully optimistic.

Boozer is strong around the rim and has a soft touch. He can score on the interior in a way that we can expect to translate into the regular season. His passing chops won't be going anywhere, either. Boozer seems always to make the right read.

His game is simple. Boozer isn't especially flashy, but he can get to his spots and make the right decisions when he gets there. In time, that will help him bend NBA defenses like a star player is supposed to.

If there's a concern, it's that Boozer has hit just 28.6% of his 4.8 three-point attempts per game. Ideally, he'll improve on that mark throughout his career, if not immediately. He's likely to struggle with that as a rookie.

At the same time, almost every player has some hole in their game. Even if Boozer never improves his shooting, he's flashed star potential throughout the 2026-27 NBA preseason:

Now, fans can only wait for the regular season to begin.