Don’t look now, but it appears that the Memphis Grizzlies may have a major draft steal on their hands. The Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward 11th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, and there were some who questioned whether they were right using a lottery pick on him.
Prior to the NBA Draft, he appeared to be one of the more NBA-ready prospects. That still appears to be the case now, with him already having an impressive showing in the NBA.
Despite playing three seasons in college, he only played five games for Duke last season. Even so, those five games introduced him to a larger audience and helped him be viewed as a lottery prospect.
Combine that with the fact he averaged a solid 17.7 points and 7 rebounds and shot 40% from deep on 5 threes per game, and he seemed like a worthwhile gamble. After all, Coward has a reliable shot, can create for himself off-the-dribble, and can guard on the perimeter with his impressive physical profile at 6’6″, with a 7’2 1/2″ wingspan and a 38.5″ vertical leap.
Coward quickly quieted doubters in just his three regular-season game with an impressive 27 points, including drilling six threes.
Thus far, through four games, he’s averaging 16.5 points and shooting 64.3% from three in just 23.5 minutes per game. That should come as a big relief to Grizzlies fans who were likely cautiously optimistic that he could make an immediate impact.
Cedric Coward just proved he could be the Grizzlies’ third option
Coward’s coming-out party highlights the Grizzlies’ offseason moves, which saw them trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. That move netted them four first-round picks and gave them massive financial flexibility to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
If Coward can be the Grizzlies’ latest success story, then he could quickly develop into their number three option. That would give them a far cheaper and more complete version of Bane. While Bane ranks as one of the best high-volume shooters in the NBA, he didn’t provide much else, whereas Coward has a far more well-rounded skill set.
Better still, lottery picks with similar physical profiles to Coward have often panned out in big ways, with Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes both being examples. That is not to say that he will be a surefire future all-star, but he has the skill, height, length, and size to potentially develop into one in the near future.
All in all, Coward’s explosive performance proves that his limited but stellar college season was far from a fluke. If he can live up to his vast potential on both ends of the floor, he could quickly emerge as a third option for the Grizzlies and allow them to retool around Marant and Jackson Jr. in short order.
