Ja Morant is gone, but Scottie Pippen Jr. thinks the Memphis Grizzlies will be fun to watch next season.
During an interview with ABS-CBN News, Scottie Pippen Jr. made a bold statement about the Memphis Grizzlies.
Pippen Jr., the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, believes the Grizzlies will be "super exciting" to watch next season even though All-Star point guard Ja Morant is gone.
Memphis, of course, traded Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers this summer.
"I think just preparing as I always do, you know, getting ready this summer, working out every day," Pippen Jr. said. "Our team's going to be super, you know, exciting this year. I think a lot of people are counting us out."
The Grizzlies will look very different next season. Morant and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are gone from last season's team. The newcomers are Quinten Post, Cameron Boozer, Karim López, Isaiah Stewart, Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
"We have a lot of young guys, a lot of hungry guys that are willing to, you know, to work hard and, you know, try to surprise a lot of people this season," Pippen Jr. said.
It will be a while before the Grizzlies make the playoffs again. However, at least they have a young building block in Boozer, who won the Player of the Year Award last season. 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.
Pippen Jr. appeared in only 10 games for the Grizzlies last season because of injuries. He underwent a sesamoidectomy to address ongoing discomfort in his right big toe but is ready to go for next season.
"I'm feeling good. [I] got surgery at the end of last season," Pippen Jr. said. "Took this whole summer recovering, rehabbing, and feeling super healthy and ready to go for next season, so I'm excited."
Pippen Jr. averaged 11.4 points and 4.7 assists per game for Memphis last season. He will have a major role next season since Morant and Caldwell-Pope are gone.
The 25-year-old Pippen Jr. enters next season with career averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 assists per game with the Los Angeles Lakers and Grizzlies.
