Memphis Grizzlies Select Cameron Boozer With No. 3 Pick in 2026 NBA Draft

The Memphis Grizzlies have made their choice at No. 3 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, selecting Duke University product Cameron Boozer.

Boozer was widely projected to land with the Grizzlies barring a surprise, and the first two picks in the draft didn't deliver any shocking news before Memphis was on the clock at No. 3.

The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa out of Brigham Young University at No. 1 overall, and the Utah Jazz went with Darryn Peterson from the University of Kansas at No. 2 overall.

That kept things on track for the Grizzlies to go with Boozer, who was seen as the most likely option. He is one of the top prospects in the draft class and could be a team-altering talent for Memphis.

In his lone season at Duke, Boozer did plenty to prove that he was worthy of being a one-and-done, high-end lottery selection. The 6-foot-9 forward 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 3-point range.

Although the Blue Devils, who were the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on the men's side, failed to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a national title, they did reach the Elite Eight before bowing out.

Boozer took home a laundry list of personal accolades as a result of his season with Duke, including AP Player of the Year honors nationally. Even though the Wizards and Jazz picked other players ahead of Boozer, the All-American had one of the best college basketball seasons in quite some time while at Duke.

The Grizzlies, while certainly excited about their new rookie, still have work to do in this draft. They currently have two other picks in their arsenal at No. 16 and No. 32 overall. Both selections serve as opportunities for the team to bring more young talent into the fold.

Fans in Memphis are looking for reasons to be optimistic after a 2025-26 season in which the team won just 25 games and fell out of playoff contention in the Western Conference. While there is still a long way to go this offseason, Boozer is a thrilling addition for a franchise that has never made the NBA Finals and is hoping to get there down the line.

Time will tell what the rest of the draft holds for the Grizzlies and their fan base.

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