Though NBA.com’s latest Rookie Ladder has San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle favored to win the 2024 Rookie of the Year award, Memphis Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells has made quite a strong case for himself. Unlike Castle, who has several eye-popping statistical performances, Wells’s season may not have caught the eye of the casual fan. Nonetheless, he’s another one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders thanks to his quickness, toughness, tenacity, and technique.
His blend confidence, instincts, and shooting touch allow him an x-factor for the Grizzlies at the offensive end. Indeed, he’s just one of three players on Memphis’s roster to average at least 10 points per game while shooting above 38 percent from 3. The Grizzlies’ season-leader in 3-point conversions, he ranks fourth among his teammates in made free-throws. When comparing him to the players in his draft class, he ranks second in total points (662), seventh in 3-point percentage (.382), and is tied with 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher for fourth in points per game (11.4).
Grizzlies Rookie Of The Year Contender Jaylen Wells Focused On Winning Championship
At the very least, Wells is outplaying his draft position after being selected 39th overall out of Washington State. Frankly, he couldn’t be blamed for thinking he should be considered the eventual Rookie of the Year. However, the 21-year-old isn’t focused on the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
“I mean, I don’t really focus on it,” he tells RG’s Spencer Davies in an in-depth interview. “I’m focused on getting a championship. And if it just so happens… I feel like if I’m playing winning basketball, it should fall right into my hands. So that’s kinda how my mindset is.”
With that being said, if the Grizzlies were to win a championship this season, Wells would likely be on the court when the confetti falls. As the archetypal 3-and-D wing, he plays a role that’s become essential in today’s NBA. If Memphis were matched up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, an NBA Finals contender, he’d even be able to slow down stars like Donovan Mitchell. That’s not a theory but a fact. One that Mitchell himself knows.
In fact, following the Grizzlies’ narrow loss to the Cavs on Sunday, Mitchell showered Wells with praise.
Donovan Mitchell with a ton of praise of Jaylen Wells: “For a second-round rookie [to face] guys like myself, Dame, Book, Ant, Steph, he’s on the [scouting] report. That’s a lot of respect to him. He’s kind of made himself a staple over there.”
Exclusive feature on Wells below👇 pic.twitter.com/31Vb6j2MU9
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) February 25, 2025
“…He’s on the scouting report,” says the six-time All-Star.
The next game, he scored 19 points on 5-7 shooting from three while taking down the fizzling Phoenix Suns in overtime. As usual, he was cool as a fan when the lights were brightest. With that in mind, Wells is shooting 50.0 percent from the field in the clutch, the third-highest mark on his team.
Jaylen Wells 19-5-2, 7/12 FG, +6
Scored 7 in overtime pic.twitter.com/iqqywYOKnr
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) February 26, 2025
Ultimately, only time will tell whether he wins an NBA award or championship. However, he has the look of a player who’ll have a long and successful career. Accolades aside, there isn’t much more anyone can ask for.
© Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
