Memphis Grizzlies summer league action couldn’t have started much better.
Aside from pregame injury news that revealed Karim Lopez (mild left hamstring strain) and Walter Clayton Jr. (mild right knee sprain) would be sidelined, the Grizzlies delivered plenty of fireworks in their Salt Lake City Summer League opener on July 4.
Memphis raced to a double-digit first-quarter lead at Jon M. Huntsman Center, cruising to a 111-74 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Grizzlies entered summer league with one of the event’s deepest rosters, a blend of high-end rookies headlined by No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, and returning players with NBA experience. That combination showed throughout the dominant performance.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Memphis’ summer league opener.
Cameron Boozer stars in debut
It took one possession for Boozer to make an impression.
The 6-foot-10 forward opened his summer league career by attacking the rim for a dunk over Thunder 7-3 center Aday Mara. From there, he showcased the complete offensive package that made him one of the top prospects in the draft, scoring from the rim, midrange and 3-point range.
Boozer’s impact extended well beyond scoring. He consistently made the right reads while drawing extra defensive attention, threaded accurate passes in traffic and looked comfortable pushing the ball in transition as both a passer and scorer.
He finished with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.
If Boozer continues playing at this level, the Grizzlies may not have much reason to keep him in summer league for long.
Several Grizzlies looked a step ahead
Boozer wasn’t the only player who appeared too advanced for summer league competition.
Cedric Coward picked up where he left off after earning first-team NBA All-Rookie honors last season. His versatility was evident throughout the game as he controlled the glass, protected the rim with a highlight block and confidently took his shots. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Taylor Hendricks and Oliver-Maxence Prosper were somewhat surprising additions to Memphis’ summer league roster considering each has more than two seasons of NBA experience. Both looked every bit like players who may be too good for summer league.
Prosper led Memphis with 17 points, while Hendricks added 15 despite playing fewer than 20 minutes. After helping the Grizzlies build a commanding first-half lead, Hendricks played just one minute after halftime.
Memphis’s depth stands out
This version of the Grizzlies will be difficult to beat in summer league.
Several players logging major minutes also spent significant time together with Memphis during the regular season, giving the Grizzlies a chemistry advantage over many opponents still learning to play together.
Javon Small controlled the offense throughout the afternoon, finishing with 11 points and nine assists while creating quality looks for teammates.
Jahmai Mashack made his usual impact defensively, but his offensive production stood out as well. He scored 12 points and added four assists while bringing his trademark energy off the bench.
Overall, the Grizzlies received strong performances from nearly every key contributor in an impressive opening statement.
Memphis returns to action July 6 against the Utah Jazz (8 p.m. CT, Grind City Media app).
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies bring fireworks in summer league opener
