Report Card: Grizzlies Subdue Bulls, Continue Rolling in Summer League Play

Though never my intended profession, I’ve often thought about life as an educator. My mother has been a teacher my entire life and still is, so it’s often on my mind. It takes such a specific type of person to be able to do what they do. The type of person that I, without a doubt, am not. What type of teacher would I have been? Here’s the best comp I can come up with… “Lovable substitute who ditches lesson plans in favor of their preferred VHS tape from those left by the teacher.” …hey, you could do worse.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are about in as good a shape as can be. At least the Summer League roster. With a record of 2-1, Memphis headed into Saturday’s game against the Bulls hoping to stay hot this Summer. Hopefully, they keep that positive momentum heading into tonight’s game against the Cavaliers. For this game, I’ll be “grading to the competition,” so to speak. Use the scale below for a breakdown of each grade. Since, relative to our grading scale, the guys on the Summer League roster would mostly be considered NBA K-2, I’m grading them as such. Report Cards will be going out again tomorrow when the Grizzlies play the Cavaliers, so stay tuned.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. – E (23 PTS, 4 REB, 2 STL, 3 BLK, 8-14 FG, 2-3 3PT)

Kenneth Lofton Jr. continued his dominant and disruptive level of ball… Again, I’m uncertain why folks still act surprised when this happens. It’s a fact at this point: Junior can hoop. Against the Bulls, he had his most efficient performance of the Summer with 57.1/66.7/71.4 splits. In three appearances this summer, he’s now brought his point total up to 56 points. Every time he’s on the court, it forces opposing teams to stop and rethink: who cares about the “why?” As long as a player gives them pause, that is more than enough to disrupt a team.

David Roddy – EXEMPT (8 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST)

Look, David Roddy may as well get a hall pass from me. Over the course of these Summer League games, no matter the quality of his play, he will still be exempt. I’m not grading him based on these showings. At least he’s there, and at least he’s playing; I couldn’t care less how good it is. Roddy has already shown what he can do, not only on the NBA level, but on the biggest stages, as well. Of all these young guys, he’s the least of my worries.

GG Jackson – E+ (9 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, 3-6 3PT)

It’s early, but GG Jackson already looks like the steal of the 2023 Draft. I find myself shaking my head, more and more impressed with this kid, after each game. I’d consider this his least impactful game of Summer League so far, too, which is insane. He still had nine points, all from three on 50% shooting. And I’m saying it was his “least impactful.” It’s tough to pick a game that isn’t impactful with GG’s shot creation and efficiency, though. He’s shot less than 40% from deep in a single game so far this summer. That’s the definition of impactful if you ask me. You know that wing we’ve been trying to draft for years now? The Grizzlies may have found him.

Jake LaRavia – S (15 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 8-8 FT)

Jake LaRavia continues to do his best ‘Slo-Mo’ impersonation this summer. Again, he fills the stat sheet across the board, contributing a little bit of everything. Still, I’m beginning to believe I was expecting more, to not put too blunt a point on it. Is he playing better than last year? Yes. Is he showing growth in his decision-making? Sure. My thing is this: when you’re known first as a shooter in this league, continued poor shooting isn’t going to cut it. His 3PT% in three games so far is… pause for effect… 26.3%. If that was being graded alone? He’d be getting a ‘U.’ While Jake has been completely satisfactory so far this Summer League, I still hold out hope that he’s capable of more.