The Memphis Grizzlies’ Summer League run is over, but the message coming out of it is loud and clear. Cameron Boozer, the 18-year-old who just wrapped up his freshman season at Duke, didn’t mince words about what this team is going to be about.
“Speed kills. Outworking the opponent,” Boozer said. That’s not coachspeak. That’s a statement of intent from a guy who figures to be a central piece of the Grizzlies’ future.
Memphis went 4-2 in Summer League and looked the part of a team that’s been remade with a clear directive. The coaching staff wants to push the pace, and the early returns suggest the players have bought in. Boozer was a big part of that. He ran the floor, made the extra pass, and defended with the kind of intensity that makes you forget he’s still a teenager.
His teammates are already believers. Cedric Coward, heading into his second season, was blunt after the win over Atlanta. “He’s special, man. There’s no other words I can describe it. I can’t believe he’s 18. He’s a special, special player.”
Coward knows what it takes to stick in the league. He impressed as a rookie and looks like a solid rotation guy. Alongside him, Zach Edey has shown flashes of being a force in the paint when he’s healthy. The Grizzlies also added D’Angelo Russell, Isaiah Stewart, Jerami Grant, and Quinten Post this offseason — veteran presences who can steady the younger guys and still play at a higher tempo.
But the real headliner is Boozer. At Duke, he made everyone around him better on offense while holding his own on defense. He did the same thing in Summer League. The hope in Memphis is that translates when the games actually count. The team hasn’t confirmed any set rotation yet, but the early signs point to Boozer being a central part of the plan.
If Boozer is right about outworking the opponent, this team could be a problem. They have the depth, the youth, and the speed to make it work. The regular season will tell the real story, but for now, the Grizzlies look like they know exactly who they want to be.
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