{"id":149901,"date":"2025-07-14T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T18:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=149901&preview=true&preview_id=149901"},"modified":"2025-07-14T14:04:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T18:04:01","slug":"grizzlies-jackson-and-wells-are-for-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/14\/grizzlies-jackson-and-wells-are-for-real\/","title":{"rendered":"Grizzlies\u2019 Jackson and Wells Are For Real"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

As the Memphis Grizzlies <\/a>transitioned from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League, two emerging names are making waves: GG Jackson <\/a>and Jaylen Wells<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

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The Memphis Grizzlies, focused on youth development and internal growth, are closely watching these two players. Their performance in Las Vegas could be key to the Memphis Grizzlies bouncing back into true playoff contention and redefining the franchise\u2019s identity moving forward. Both young veterans are seizing the moment and pushing for meaningful roles on next season\u2019s roster.<\/p>\r\n

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Apr 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

Grizzlies\u2019 Jackson and Wells Are For Real<\/h2>\r\n

GG Jackson Is Making His Case<\/h3>\r\n

GG Jackson is on a mission. The 2023 second-round pick has been explosive in the Summer League. He\u2019s averaging 21 points per game in his three Summer League outings, showing off the skill set that made him a five-star recruit out of high school. Jackson\u2019s length, athleticism, and smooth jumper have drawn attention across the league.<\/p>\r\n

But it\u2019s not just about putting up points. Jackson spent some of last season bouncing between the NBA G League and rehab. He appeared in just 29 games for Memphis. Now healthy, he\u2019s treating the summer like an extended tryout. He wants to prove he\u2019s more than just a scorer.<\/p>\r\n

He has challenged himself to defend, pass, and stay locked in. The Memphis Grizzlies want maturity. Jackson needs to show he can make smart decisions, play within the system, and bring consistent energy every night.<\/p>\r\n

His ceiling is high. But he\u2019s got to earn trust. Las Vegas will be his proving ground.<\/p>\r\n

Jaylen Wells Brings Stability and Leadership<\/h3>\r\n

While GG Jackson brings flash, Jaylen Wells brings substance. Wells was named to the 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie First Team. At 6-foot-7, he plays with poise and control. Even when his shot isn\u2019t falling, Wells finds ways to contribute. He defends multiple positions, moves the ball well, and rebounds with purpose.<\/p>\r\n

He missed the end of last season with an injury. But now, he\u2019s healthy and using the NBA Summer League to sharpen his game. Wells is working on conditioning, timing, and rhythm\u2014key elements for a player expected to be in the Memphis Grizzlies\u2019 regular rotation.<\/p>\r\n

His value goes beyond the box score. He\u2019s a high-IQ player who stretches the floor and makes winning plays. The Memphis Grizzlies need that. If Wells continues to evolve, he could again be in the starting lineup.<\/p>\r\n

Grizzlies Betting on Youth in Vegas<\/h3>\r\n

The Memphis Grizzlies are in the middle of a roster reset. With Ja Morant<\/a> returning healthy and a core of young talent emerging, the franchise is focused on development over splashy moves. GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells are central to that plan.<\/p>\r\n

Their NBA Summer League play isn\u2019t just about stats. It\u2019s about setting the tone. The Memphis Grizzlies want players who fit the \u201cGrit and Grind\u201d identity. Tough. Smart. Hungry. Jackson and Wells check those boxes.<\/p>\r\n

As Las Vegas games continue, both players will stay under the microscope. Their growth could help Memphis take the next step, from rebuild mode to playoff push. For now, the NBA Summer League stage is theirs. And they\u2019re making it count.<\/p>\r\n

Photo credit: \u00a9 Petre Thomas-Imagn Images<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/article>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the Memphis Grizzlies transitioned from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League, two emerging names are making waves: GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells. The Memphis Grizzlies, focused on youth development and internal growth, are closely watching these two players. Their performance in Las Vegas could be key to the Memphis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5586,"featured_media":150325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,32,62,3],"tags":[4933,49556,1127,1224],"class_list":["post-149901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-grizzlies","category-nba","category-news","tag-gg-jackson","tag-jaylen-wells","tag-las-vegas-summer-league","tag-nba-summer-league"],"modified_by":"Kenny Kluska","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5586"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149901"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150330,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149901\/revisions\/150330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}