Year after year, the Grizzlies have a nose for finding good players in the second round of the Draft, or even as « two-way contract » . Elements that most often benefit from injuries to stars, like GG Jackson or Vince Williams Jr last season. Confirmation this year with the named Jaylen Wells39th choice of the Draft.
After eleven matches, he is averaging 11.4 points, and the NBA has selected him number 1 in its weekly “rookie ladder”, a sort of “race for the best rookie”. “ It’s nice, and you know, I talked to my mom about it. But I don’t pay attention to it anymore.” he reacted about this unexpected first place, and the possibility of being Rookie Of The Year at the end of the season.
At 15 years old, Jaylen Wells is 1m75 tall…
On the other hand, what he likes is to see that he is ahead of Zach Edey, and he would like it if he or his teammate brought the trophy back to Memphis. “It would be cool if he and I brought it back (to Memphis), or it was him or me. That would be really nice” he continues.
Unlike the immense Edey, Wells went under the radar for many years, and he owes his early fame to his good debut in the NBA. But before that, few scouts had noticed him. Like others, Wells was penalized by the pandemic, but also… its late growth. During his first year in high school, in Sacramento, he was only 1m75 tall, and it was obviously difficult to stand out. Except that two years later, he gained 20 centimeters, and he is no longer a playmaker, but a winger.
He joins Klay Thompson’s old school
A transfer which allowed him to win the title of Player of the Year of the Metro League in Sacramento. Revealed late, he was unable to get a place in a good university, and he settled for a place at Sonoma State, in Division II! He remained two years, and during his sophomore season, he was voted Player of the Year of the California Collegiate Athletic Association. For him, there is no doubt, he can play on the upper level, and he is registered on the transfer platform. He left his native Sacramento for Washington State. It is there that Klay Thompson was trained, and Wells demonstrates that he is also a good shooter with an average of 15 points, in the Pac-12, within a team qualified for the NCAA tournament. His 3-point skill, 42%, allows him to have his name on a few scout tablets.
Last May, on the strength of this great first season in the NCAA, he registered for the Draft, with the possibility of withdrawing his name. Proof that he is not very well known, Jaylen Wells was initially not invited to the NBA Draft Combine. But Ryan Kalkbrenner gets injured, returns to Creighton, and Wells finally lands an invitation. This allowed him to play in front of the scouts and managers of the 30 NBA franchises, and this is how he found himself selected in 39th position. “If you had asked me when I was a freshman at Sonoma State where I would be today, I would have told you I would be preparing for my fourth year at Sonoma State.”Wells confided during his introductory press conference with the Grizzlies. “It’s a little surreal to be in this place.”
Congratulated by LeBron James
Four months later, what’s even more surreal is that Taylor Jenkins gave him the wing-back position in the starting five after Desmond Bane’s injury, and he even caught the eye of LeBron James! It was during the Lakers reception. After a 3-pointer planted eight meters away, LeBron James congratulated him with a friendly pat on the head. A way of saying: “Welcome to the NBA!” »
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to develop them mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
| Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1 | Jared McCain | PHI | 11 | 19.0 | 45.7 | 38.5 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 13.5 |
| 2 | Zaccharie Risacher | ATL | 12 | 26.8 | 37.2 | 24.6 | 62.2 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 11.7 |
| 3 | Zach Edey | MEM | 12 | 20.3 | 62.2 | 57.1 | 65.5 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 6.8 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 11.3 |
| 4 | Jaylen Wells | MEM | 12 | 25.9 | 43.0 | 37.0 | 72.7 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 11.2 |
| 5 | Bub Carrington | WAS | 10 | 30.0 | 43.2 | 36.1 | 88.9 | 0.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 9.9 |
| 6 | Kyshawn George | WAS | 10 | 29.0 | 37.2 | 29.2 | 75.0 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 9.8 |
| 7 | Alex Sarr | WAS | 10 | 25.3 | 34.3 | 16.7 | 70.8 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 9.5 |
| 8 | Stephon Castle | SAS | 12 | 23.6 | 38.0 | 23.1 | 67.9 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 8.7 |
| 9 | Ryan Dunn | PHX | 11 | 17.8 | 46.3 | 37.8 | 25.0 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 7.3 |
| 10 | Dalton Knecht | LAL | 11 | 18.2 | 44.6 | 37.2 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7.3 |
| 11 | Tristan Da Silva | ORL | 9 | 25.0 | 37.5 | 31.3 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 7.1 |
| 12 | Yves Missi | NOP | 12 | 22.7 | 55.7 | 0.0 | 65.2 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 6.9 |
| 13 | Kyle Filipowski | UTA | 9 | 15.7 | 54.5 | 38.1 | 37.5 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| 14 | Ron Holland | THE | 13 | 15.6 | 44.3 | 14.3 | 80.0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 6.0 |
| 15 | Donovan Clingan | BY | 13 | 15.8 | 53.7 | 20.0 | 83.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 5.7 |
| 16 | Keaton Wallace | ATL | 10 | 16.3 | 43.1 | 34.8 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 5.6 |
| 17 | Jamison Battle | TOR | 11 | 14.4 | 39.2 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.3 |
| 18 | Ajay Mitchell | OKC | 12 | 15.2 | 53.1 | 45.5 | 85.7 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.3 |
| 19 | Jonathan Mogbo | TOR | 12 | 15.6 | 48.8 | 16.7 | 70.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 5.2 |
| 20 | Jamal Shead | TOR | 12 | 15.8 | 37.1 | 22.7 | 90.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| 21 | Pelle Larsson | MIA | 7 | 13.9 | 52.2 | 41.7 | 60.0 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| 22 | Tyler Kolek | NOW | 7 | 6.6 | 69.2 | 75.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| 23 | Cody Williams | UTA | 10 | 22.1 | 26.4 | 17.2 | 62.5 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.8 |
| 24 | Isaiah Collier | UTA | 3 | 14.7 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| 25 | Reed Sheppard | NEW | 12 | 11.9 | 42.9 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
| 26 | Tidjane Salaun | CHA | 9 | 17.2 | 25.0 | 22.2 | 25.0 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 27 | Kel’el Ware | MIA | 6 | 7.2 | 44.4 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 3.0 |
| 28 | Rob Dillingham | MIN | 5 | 5.6 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| 29 | Very Ighodaro | PHX | 7 | 10.9 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| 30 | Tyler Smith | MIL | 8 | 3.6 | 66.7 | 42.9 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
| 31 | I’m Kobe Walter | TOR | 4 | 12.2 | 18.8 | 16.7 | 60.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
| 32 | Matas Buzelis | CHI | 11 | 8.5 | 25.8 | 20.0 | 62.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.2 |
| 33 | Antonio Reeves | NOP | 7 | 6.4 | 31.6 | 18.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 34 | Luke Travers | CLE | 2 | 3.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| 35 | KJ Simpson | CHA | 1 | 6.9 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 36 | Alex Reese | OKC | 1 | 1.9 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 37 | Ulrich Chomche | TOR | 1 | 4.5 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 38 | Johnny Furphy | IND | 4 | 5.5 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 39 | Liam Robbins | MIL | 3 | 5.5 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
| 40 | Dillon Jones | OKC | 11 | 6.8 | 29.6 | 6.7 | 25.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| 41 | Jaylen Martin | BRK | 2 | 1.5 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| 42 | Jazian Gortman | DAL | 2 | 2.3 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| 43 | Jaylon Tyson | CLE | 5 | 4.9 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.4 |
| 44 | Adem Bona | PHI | 8 | 4.0 | 83.3 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| 45 | Baylor Scheierman | BOS | 3 | 6.0 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| 46 | Pacome Dadiet | NOW | 4 | 6.9 | 33.3 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| 47 | Terrence Shannon, Jr. | MIN | 4 | 3.7 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| 48 | Reece Beekman | GSW | 2 | 2.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 49 | Karlo Matkovic | NOP | 2 | 2.4 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 50 | Yuki Kawamura | MEM | 8 | 3.2 | 18.2 | 12.5 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 51 | Trey Alexander | IT | 2 | 2.9 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 52 | Jack McVeigh | NEW | 3 | 3.3 | 20.0 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 53 | Jalen Bridges | PHX | 1 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 54 | Enrique Freeman | IND | 5 | 7.2 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| 55 | Isaac Jones | SAC | 5 | 2.1 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| 56 | Bronny James | LAL | 6 | 2.6 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| 57 | A.J. Johnson | MIL | 4 | 2.1 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 58 | Cui Yongxi | BRK | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 59 | Malevy Leon | OKC | 5 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| 60 | Ariel Hukporti | NOW | 5 | 6.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| 61 | Spencer Jones | IT | 1 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 62 | Riley Minix | SAS | 1 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 63 | Harrison Ingram | SAS | 1 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 64 | Daniss Jenkins | THE | 2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 65 | Alex Dukes | OKC | 4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
