The Memphis Grizzlies have had a difficult season, but Cedric Coward has made it a bit easier. Should he make the All-Rookie First Team?
It's been a generally dark season for the Memphis Grizzlies. That said, there have been some bright spots.
Cedric Coward has been the brightest of them all.
Nothing, short of an NBA championship, excites a fanbase quite like a promising rookie. Even amidst all the losses, Coward has given Grizzlies fans a reason to tune in.
That said, he hasn't been the only promising rookie of the 2025-26 season. We've seen a lot of talented freshmen this year:
Does Coward have a spot on the All-Rookie Team?
Grizzlies rookie could earn prestigious award
Let's get the obvious out of the way: Coward won't be Rookie of the Year.
That will be either Kon Knueppel or Cooper Flagg. This is one of the closest Rookie of the Year races in recent memory. It could be a tie, but we know Coward won't be atop that podium.
He likely wouldn't even be third. That should be VJ Edgecombe's spot to lose. 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game to Coward's 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. It should be noted that Coward's -0.2 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) is better than Edgecombe's -0.6, but context is needed. Edgecombe is on a playoff team, so those comparisons only have so much merit in either direction.
Similarly, Dylan Harper is a threat. His 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists are slightly less impressive, but he's a rotation player on a title contender. It would be a close call between him and Coward. Harper started the year slowly, only to find his footing. His highs have been higher, but Coward has been more consistent.
Finally, second-round pick Maxime Raynaud has surprised everyone with averages of 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He could be the Kings' starting big man for years to come. Raynaud doesn't get extra credit for being a second-round selection, but he's arguably earned the All-Rookie nod in a vacuum.
Does Coward have a chance?
Coward should be All-Rookie
Yes. Let's go back to BPM. Raynaud is at -2.6. There's no contextual excuse for the gap between him and Coward. They're both on losing teams.
The numbers suggest that Coward has been more impactful. Simply put, he's the better player as of now.
Hopefully, the voters understand that. There will be a temptation to reward a late pick. There's also a certain impulse to include one big man on the team, but it's positionless. If the All-Rookie team is meant to reflect the five best rookies in the NBA this year, Coward should have the fifth (if not fourth) spot secured.
It's one of the only reasons this season has been bearable for Grizzlies fans.