Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer is only 19 years old. But he’s been around the NBA his whole life. His father Carlos played 13 seasons in the league. So when Boozer talks about what he learned from watching last season’s playoffs, it’s worth paying attention.
He wasn’t just watching any team. He was locked in on the New York Knicks. And what he saw changed the way he thinks about his own game.
The Knicks won their first championship in 53 years by playing a brand of basketball that doesn’t rely on traditional positions. Everyone on the floor could handle the ball. Everyone could space the floor. Everyone could defend multiple spots. It wasn’t about fitting into one box. It was about being comfortable in every box.
That clicked for Boozer. According to a report from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the No. 3 overall pick realized he can’t just be a power forward anymore. He has to be a basketball player. Period.
“Versatility is the name of the game,” Boozer said. “That’s what teams are looking for. Teams want five guys who can make plays. Look at the Knicks this year. Everyone on that team was capable of doing more than one thing. Everyone was capable of playing on or off the basketball.”
He added: “That’s what I feel like I can do best. I can screen. I can handle it. You can put me in a lot of different scenarios.”
Boozer showed exactly what that looks like during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals while leading the Grizzlies to the championship game. They finished second, but Boozer looked like the best player on the floor most nights.
But he didn’t stop there. Boozer also went to work on his body and his shot.
Dropping weight and tightening the jumper
The former Duke standout dropped 10 pounds before Summer League. He wanted to be quicker on the perimeter. In today’s NBA, big men have to chase guards around screens. He knew that would be a weak spot if he didn’t address it.
He also spent hours refining his jump shot. If he can consistently knock down mid-range and three-point looks, it opens up everything else. Defenders can’t sag off. They have to respect him. And once they close out hard, he can go by them.
Jones wrote that Boozer’s jumper will be “key in opening up his game inside the three-point arc.” That’s not just coachspeak. That’s how you turn a good rookie into a dangerous one.
The Grizzlies are going to ask Boozer to carry a heavy load right away. Memphis isn’t sneaking up on anyone this season. They expect to compete. Boozer should be a big part of that, and he seems to understand what it takes.
Safe to say, he’s already circled the date of the Knicks game on his calendar. That one will mean something.
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