Olivier-Maxence Prosper flourishes in Memphis, transforming from a two-way player into a versatile, high-motor contributor on a multi-year deal.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Wednesday they have signed forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper to a multi-year contract after the 23-year-old spent the first portion of the season on a two-way deal.
Prosper has appeared in 36 games (seven starts) this season, averaging 7.6 points on 54.1% shooting and 3.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes. He has been even more productive of late, posting 14.0 points on 67.5% shooting in 24.3 minutes over his last nine contests, including a career-high 25-point effort Feb. 7 at Portland.
The Montreal native was selected 24th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Marquette and spent two seasons in Dallas before the Mavericks waived him last August to create cap flexibility. He signed with Memphis on a two-way contract Sept. 4 and has developed into one of the team's most reliable contributors amid a lengthy injury list that has included Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Santi Aldama at various points this season.
Whether asked to play the three, four, and at times the five in small-ball lineups, Prosper is absorbing each adjustment without issue. He explained after last Friday's performance that he has embraced the versatility rather than viewed it as a burden.
"I'm willing to do whatever the team needs me to do," Prosper told DallasHoopsJournal.com. "Playing small ball could be seen as a disadvantage, but I see it as an advantage — my speed, my quickness, my ability to take bigger guys off the dribble."
Prosper delivered his first career double-double in that outing, a 16-point, 10-rebound, plus-16 performance in a 124-105 win over his former team. He shot 7-of-10 from the field, hit both of his 3-point attempts and recorded three steals in 25 minutes against Dallas — the franchise that waived him 14 months earlier.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo praised Prosper's development following the performance.
"All of O-Max's energy is just contagious," Iisalo told DallasHoopsJournal.com. "He's one of the highest-motor players in the whole league. He's had to basically shift up a position or two spots and is doing a great job. He's improved his shooting from the outside and is shooting with a lot of confidence. Just how he's improving in the little facets of the game overall, it's a testament to the hard work he's putting in."
The improvement in shooting has been among the most dramatic statistical changes in Prosper's young career. He shot just 26% from 3-point range across two seasons in Dallas. This season, he is converting at a 40.3% clip, including 44.4% in February across 10 games.
Prosper credited consistent playing time for the turnaround.
"I've been staying prepared forever for the opportunity," Prosper told DallasHoopsJournal.com. "Now that I've been playing more consistently, things are starting to slow down. I'm able to see the court better, make better reads, and just let my game show."
In 128 career regular-season games across three seasons with Dallas and Memphis, Prosper is averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.6 minutes.