Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Double-double off bench Friday
Rotowire
Coward contributed 13 points (4-11 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT) while adding 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals in 26 minutes off the bench during Friday's 117-112 loss to the Lakers.
The 11th overall pick in the 2025 Draft struggled to find his shot, but Coward still delivered a strong performance that included a season high in pilfers and his first career double-double. The Washington State product has scored in double digits in five of his first six NBA contests, averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 boards, 2.2 assists, 1.8 threes and 1.3 steals in 24.7 minutes a game.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Explodes with 27 points
Rotowire
Coward supplied 27 points (9-13 FG, 6-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one steal in 24 minutes during Saturday's 128-103 win over the Pacers.
Coward went off for a game-high 27 points while draining all six of his three-point attempts. The rookie first-round pick also recorded a game-best plus-36 rating in his time off the bench. Coward is averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals on 70.4/72.7/91.7 shooting splits through his first three NBA games, and he'll look to stay hot against the Warriors on Monday.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Drains six triples in victory
Rotowire
Coward contributed 27 points (9-13 FG, 6-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one steal across 24 minutes in Saturday's 128-103 win over the Pacers.
Coward caught fire en route to a game-high 27 points, including 15 in the third quarter alone. The rookie has logged 22-plus minutes in all three of the Grizzlies' games thus far, averaging 19.0 points in 22.7 minutes per contest. He should continue to see significant playing time off the bench due to Ty Jerome (calf) and Vince Williams (heel) being sidelined.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Totals 15 points off bench
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Coward registered 15 points (4-9 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), one rebound, one assist and one steal across 22 minutes during Saturday's 122-116 preseason loss to Atlanta.
Coward was deployed off the bench Saturday with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returning from a scheduled night off Wednesday. The rookie guard led the Memphis reserves in scoring despite a tough shooting performance from beyond the arc, as he managed to tack on six points from the charity stripe. Coward will presumably be a factor in the Grizzlies' rotation at some point during his first NBA season, though it remains unclear how involved he'll be at the beginning of the year.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Bench role Saturday
Rotowire
Coward will come off the bench during Saturday's preseason game against the Hawks.
After a poor shooting performance as a starter in Wednesday's preseason game against the Celtics, Coward will be in the second unit. There's no doubting the rookie's talent, but his shooting may become a concern if he can't figure out a way to turn it around during the rest of the preseason.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Shooting woes continue in loss
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Coward produced 15 points (4-13 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 7-7FT), six rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes during Wednesday's preseason loss to Boston.
Coming off an 0-for7 performance in Monday's preseason loss to the Pistons, Coward once again struggled with his shot. However, he was able to get to the free-throw line with regularity, from where he shot a perfect 7-for-7. While his long-term role remains a little uncertain, he could see a few extra minutes to begin the season, especially if Ja Morant misses time.
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Grizzlies' Cedric Coward: Likely out for summer ball
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Coward (shoulder) is considered doubtful to play in the Salt Lake City or Las Vegas Summer Leagues this month, a Grizzlies spokesperson told Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
As a senior at Washington State this past season, Coward was limited to just six games before suffering a shredded rotator cuff and partially torn labrum in his left (non-shooting) shoulder in late November that required surgery. Coward's significant shoulder injury didn't deter the Grizzlies from trading up in the 2025 NBA Draft to select him with the 11th overall pick, and though the 21-year-old wing said during the pre-draft process that he's nearly fully recovered from surgery, he hasn't yet taken part in 5-on-5 practices. Coward is still expected to join the Grizzlies in Salt Lake and Las Vegas and take part in pregame work, but he doesn't look as though he'll be ready for game action until the preseason.
