“From Lakers Reject to Rising Star: Little Pippen Makes a Mark with the Grizzlies!”

By 739849140 Apr9,2024

It’s well known that the Grizzlies have had a terrible season this year.

The team had been performing astonishingly well over the past two years, but with Morant suspended, they got off to a rough start with a record of 1 win and 8 losses. After 25 games, they had only managed 6 wins and 19 losses, placing them at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Just when Morant returned from suspension, he suffered a shoulder injury after a few games and was eventually ruled out for the season. Not only that, but none of the Grizzlies’ core members were healthy, with players like Bain, Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kennard, Clarke, Ross, and Adams (before the trade) all sidelined with injuries.

One staggering statistic is that the Grizzlies have used a total of 31 different players this season, breaking an NBA historical record, highlighting just how tough this season has been for them.

Currently, the Grizzlies’ record stands at 27 wins and 51 losses, placing them third from the bottom in the West, already out of playoff contention, only hoping to bounce back next season.

However, this kind of lottery season isn’t entirely bad for the Grizzlies as their young players have had more opportunities to grow, such as little Scottie Pippen.

Little Scottie Pippen is the son of the legendary Pippen, and his mother is Larsa Pippen, yes, the one who had a controversial relationship with Jordan’s son, Marcus. Larsa and Marcus had their ups and downs, and there were rumors of them planning to marry with Jordan as the best man, but Jordan reportedly declined.

Fans even joked that if Larsa and Marcus did marry, little Pippen would not only be “Pippen’s son” but also “Jordan’s grandson,” which sounds… quite bizarre.

Jokes aside, focusing solely on basketball, little Pippen does have some potential. Standing at 1.85 meters tall, he plays as a point guard and is good at shooting. At least he can make it to the NBA, having played for the Lakers last season and even scored 41 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and made 6 assists in a G League game.

However, objectively speaking, little Pippen’s abilities are somewhat limited. Last season, he only played 6 regular-season games for the Lakers, averaging 5.3 minutes per game, scoring only 2.3 points with a shooting percentage of 33.3% from the field and three-point range.

Not to demean him, but last season, little Pippen didn’t perform well at all and was released by the Lakers at the end of the season.

After being waived, little Pippen didn’t fade out of the league but instead signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. Taking advantage of the Grizzlies’ wave of injuries to key players, little Pippen showcased his skills.

In a recent game between the Grizzlies and the 76ers, Morant, Bain, Jaren Jackson Jr., Smart, Kennard, and Ross were all absent due to injuries, leading to a natural loss for the team. However, little Pippen had a career night.

He played 30 minutes, shot 16 for 9, made 4 of 2 three-pointers, went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line, scored a career-high of 24 points, along with 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. In the third quarter alone, he scored 14 points and provided 4 assists – his score in this quarter matched his total score from his time with the Lakers last season.

It’s worth mentioning that this game was also Marc Gasol’s jersey retirement night, so not only was his father Pippen present, but Grizzlies legends like Randolph, Conley, and Tony Allen were also in attendance, making little Pippen’s performance even more significant.

In the last 8 games, little Pippen has scored in double digits in 6 games. Apart from his 24 points and 5 assists in this game, he also had highlights such as 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals, and 17 points, 4 assists, and 16 points, 7 assists.

Expanding to the entire season, little Pippen has played 17 games for the Grizzlies, starting in 12 of them, averaging 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 50.0% from the field and an impressive 47.2% from three-point range, a stark improvement compared to last season.

Of course, playing well on a struggling team might raise suspicions of stat-padding, but being able to do so is also a skill. Many players don’t even get such opportunities. From this perspective, little Pippen’s season can certainly be considered a success.

He has transformed from a fringe player with a two-way contract who barely saw any playing time to a starting point guard on a weak team, averaging over 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game with a three-point shooting percentage as high as 47.2%. That’s a significant improvement.

In my opinion, when the Grizzlies’ key players return next season, little Pippen’s role will likely be marginalized. However, his experiences this season prove that he can establish himself in the NBA, and his reliable three-point shooting, crucial in today’s game, might earn him a spot on the Grizzlies next season.

As for the Lakers letting him go, objectively speaking, it wasn’t unjustified, considering little Pippen’s limited performance last season. The Lakers didn’t have many opportunities to develop him further.

Opportunities are for those who are prepared. At 23 years old, little Pippen went undrafted and certainly doesn’t possess his father’s talent. He was on the fringe of the league last season, but he seized an opportunity this year. Hopefully, he’ll continue to prove himself and eventually earn a permanent contract in the future.

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