Memphis got its guy. And for a few seconds on draft night, that guy couldn’t find the words.
Cameron Boozer, taken third overall by the Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Draft, sat flanked by his family and tried to explain what it felt like to hear his name called. He couldn’t quite get there.
“I don’t even know how to describe it honestly, man,” Boozer told ESPN. “It’s my moment, but it’s our moment as a family.”
That family includes his twin brother Cayden, a projected first-round pick in his own right, and their father Carlos — the two-time NBA All-Star who raised them around the game. For Cameron, the draft wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was the payoff for years of family sacrifice.
A one-and-done season for the ages
Boozer spent just one season at Duke, but he made it count. In 38 games, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds (best in the ACC), and 4.1 assists. He walked away with the Wooden Award, ACC Player of the Year, and Consensus First-Team All-American honors. Not bad for a guy who won two state titles in high school and gold medals with USA Basketball before ever stepping foot on a college campus.
Now he’s stepping into a franchise that’s been stuck in the mud. The Grizzlies have made the playoffs in four of the last six seasons, sure. But they haven’t won a first-round series since 2022. And with all the noise around a potential Ja Morant trade, the organization needed a reset.
Boozer is that reset.
What Boozer brings to Memphis
He’s a 6-foot-9 forward with a grown-man game. Strong in the post. Reliable from midrange. Smart with the ball in his hands. More importantly, he’s a known winner — and that’s exactly what a spiraling franchise needs.
Whether Morant stays or goes, Boozer gives Memphis a new centerpiece. A guy you can build around. A guy who doesn’t need the spotlight but doesn’t shrink from it either.
Right now, though, he’s still letting it sink in that he’s actually an NBA player.
“I don’t even know how to describe it honestly, man,” he said again, like he couldn’t quite believe the words coming out of his mouth.
Give him time. He’ll figure it out.
Leave a Comment