Ty Jerome Praises Grizzlies' Pace, Cameron Boozer After Preseason Return

Ty Jerome did not play after halftime Monday night in Atlanta. The Memphis Grizzlies had 81 points by then.

Memphis went on to beat the Atlanta Hawks 132-123 in its preseason opener at State Farm Arena. Jerome started at point guard and finished with 12 points, five assists, and one block in 15 minutes. He shot 4-of-8 from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.

The Grizzlies led 81-61 at the break. Jerome said the stops were what let Memphis get out and run.

"After the first few minutes, we started playing with a much better pace," Jerome said in a walk-off interview after the game. "Getting some stops helped us so we can get out and run a little more. And then we did a good job of playing fast and finding the matchups we liked and spread the ball. Everyone got some shots, and we looked all right."

Eighteen Grizzlies played. GG Jackson II led the team with 14 points in 15 minutes off the bench.

Jerome and center Quinten Post started and did not return for the second half, and Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer played sparingly after the break. Atlanta won the second half 62-51 and made a run in the fourth quarter with the Memphis starters on the bench.

Jerome's five assists led the team. Five Grizzlies finished with at least four, with Scotty Pippen Jr., Boozer, Coward, and Javon Small joining him.

Pace in the half court does not mean a quick shot for Jerome.

"It's huge for us, right?" Jerome explained. "We want to try to get down the court fast, and it doesn't mean force a fast shot, but you see what you like and then play different actions as fast as possible too."

"Where we're exhausting — if we have a side ball screen over here, we look at that," Jerome continued. "We don't like it, we go to the next action. Keep moving, keep being fast, everyone stay aggressive."

Monday was Jerome's first game since a left ankle sprain ended his 2025-26 season with 11 games left on the schedule. He sat out all 11, including the April 12 finale at Houston.

The ankle was the second injury of his first year in Memphis. The calf came first, on Oct. 17, 2025. Jerome strained it in the first quarter of the preseason finale at Miami. Three days later, the Grizzlies announced the strain was high-grade and set a re-evaluation for four weeks out, and a later update pushed his expected return back another six to nine weeks.

Jerome missed the first 46 games. Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said before his Memphis debut on Jan. 31 against Minnesota that Jerome would be on a strict minutes restriction, and he scored 20 points in 20 minutes that night.

In 15 appearances, he averaged 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 22.6 minutes. He shot 47.4% from the field, 42.0% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. He never played more than three games in a row.

Memphis signed Jerome in July 2025 to a three-year, $27.66 million contract. He will make $9,220,050 this season, and the deal carries a $9,659,100 player option for 2027-28.

Jerome put himself on the list of sloppy possessions Monday.

"I thought that now the emphasis in training camp — running the floor, getting up and down, everyone being aggressive, but trying to get good shots and take care of the ball — I thought we had some sloppy possessions here and there, myself included," Jerome said. "And I think we'll fix that as we keep going."

Boozer, who played one season at Duke, was making his preseason debut. He started alongside Jerome, Coward, Wells, and Post, and assisted Jerome on the Grizzlies' opening basket.

The 19-year-old finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 18 minutes. He shot 5-of-9 from the field and 1-of-3 from the free-throw line. In July, Boozer made the All-Summer League First Team.

The poise is what stood out to Jerome. Boozer is 10 years younger than him.

"I think the first one I'm talking about is Booz, man," Jerome said. "He was unbelievable today. Like, the poise he has at that age is just huge. Him being able to dribble, pass, and shoot next to me, it's like I got another point guard next to me, almost at 6-foot-10. So it's cool, man. It's good."

Zach Edey did not play Monday and is expected back for opening night.

Wednesday's preseason home opener against the Orlando Magic brought Desmond Bane back to FedExForum for the first time since Memphis traded him in June 2025.

Memphis visits the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Tip-off at United Center is set for 7 p.m. CT. The preseason ends Oct. 16 at home against the Charlotte Hornets.

Utah comes to FedExForum for the regular-season opener on Oct. 21.