When the Memphis Grizzlies selected Jaylen Wells 39th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, few — if any — saw what he was as a rookie coming.
And current NBA ladder disrespect notwithstanding, Wells should absolutely be considered a favorite for Rookie of the Year more than halfway through the season.
In fairness, in most places, that is happening. Being third on the rookie ladder isn’t that egregious in the grand scheme of things. But this isn’t about just being in the conversation. Wells should be running away with the honor.
Maybe the lack of attention is due to the fact that Wells plays for a team that is actually…you know…good? Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards and Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs, both currently ahead of Wells in the NBA’s rookie ladder ratings linked above, are putting up some strong showings for their respective squads.
Yet this is happening in places and spaces that aren’t winning.
The Memphis Grizzlies are among the top five teams in the NBA. So, if there is a place where his contributions are clearly making a difference, it’s Memphis.
A defensive stalwart already
Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins has a pretty definitive line in the sand regarding young players getting playing time.
If you cannot defend, you’re unlikely to see the floor very much. Zach Edey struggles defending without fouling at times. GG Jackson has had issues in the past with this (although he grew in this space last season a great deal as the opportunity to play expanded. Imagine that— players get better when they play more!)
That hasn’t been an issue with Wells. But Jaylen is a unique example in that the numbers don’t necessarily back up what your eyes tell you. Wells is among the worst in the least in creating “stocks,” and teams shoot 3% better against the Grizzlies when he’s on the floor than when he is off of it.
But so often, the 6-foot-7 wing is tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player. In recent games, he has forced inefficient scoring from both Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves (12-32 from the field overall in his last two games with Memphis) and LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets (7-20 on Wednesday night against the Grizzlies).
Wells has a motor that doesn’t stop. He can face-guard opposing perimeter players for entire stints on the court. He is impressive at staying in front of shooters and above average at defending without fouling.
Perhaps most importantly, Wells’ ability to take on these tasks allows Desmond Bane not to have to exert so much energy on that end of the court. This means Bane can focus on being the offensive weapon he’s capable of being for Memphis. And Wells can prioritize the “D” in the “3-and -wing” archetype that so many teams covet.
Speaking of the “3”…
SHOOTER ON THE FLOOR
Jaylen Wells is such a strong contributor from beyond the arc, which is not surprising. Wells shot almost 42% from three at Washington State on almost 170 attempts.
“Letting it fly” was not a concern. The translation of the skill to the NBA level has been nice to see, though. Wells is shooting 38% from three per Cleaning the Glass, putting him in the above-average category as a shooter around the 69th percentile.
That spacing enables one of the NBA’s most unique offenses to maximize the slashing and cutting aspects of the scheme more completely. Memphis’s fast pace (the fastest in the NBA) is amplified when another floor spacer is out on the court next to Desmond Bane or Luke Kennard.
He also is the beneficiary of dribble penetration. According to Cleaning the Glass, 80% of his made shot attempts are assisted upon. So, as the likes of Bane, Morant, and even Kennard or Scotty Pippen Jr. get downhill to the bucket, he can receive a pass if his defender collapses off of him.
The flaw with that high of an assisted-upon mark is that Wells is not really willing (or able) to create his own offense off the dribble. But, friendly reminder— Wells is a rookie. Those skills can be developed with reps and time.
Check the tape – Jaylen Wells is the RoY
Jaylen Wells doesn’t get the buzz that other rookies do. He doesn’t have the NBA Draft Lottery pedigree that even his own teammate and fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Zach Edey does. And as mentioned above, Wells is not loved by several advanced statistics.
What he does do is pop off the screen when you watch him play. Because he plays like he isn’t a rookie on most nights. He takes on difficult defensive assignments. Wells hits big-time threes when his team needs them. He provides spacing and stability at the wing position that Memphis sorely needs due to all the injury turmoil they’ve encountered this season.
The Grizzlies are one of the NBA’s best teams. They currently start two rookies. Jaylen Wells, the more complete two-way player, should be hoisting the Rookie of the Year trophy if he stays on his current trajectory.
Don’t overthink. Just sit back and watch as the second-round pick proves the Memphis front office right once again. They know talent when they see it.
Jaylen Wells is proof of that.
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