<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-rookie-jaylen-wells-must-improve-before-nba-playoffs-begin');   ga('set', 'title', 'What Grizzlies need from rookie Jaylen Wells before NBA Playoffs begin');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Where-Grizzlies-rookie-Jaylen-Wells-must-improve-before-NBA-Playoffs-begin.jpg"></figure><h1>What Grizzlies need from rookie Jaylen Wells before NBA Playoffs begin</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-14T15:58:35-07:00">March 14th, 3:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-14T15:58:35-07:00">March 14th, 3:58pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/why-grizzlies-believe-ja-morant-toughness-enough-to-shake-teamwide-slump">Memphis Grizzlies answered toughness questions</a> after a four-game skid but talent questions remain as the NBA Playoffs picture shapes up. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane are locked in on a four-game winning streak now and should see an uptick in on-court time once the elimination stage begins. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/is-jaren-jackson-jr-playing-tonight-grizzlies-cavs-injury-report">Grizzlies are still waiting for Jaren Jackson Jr.</a> (ankle) and Santi Aldama to return, their absences allowing reserves like a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-kevin-durant-challenge-vs-hidden-rookie-awakened-memphis-competitive-spirit">trash-talking Cam Spencer</a> to impress the coaching staff. Jaylen Wells has been called upon more than usual as well, yet it is still not clear how much the rookie can handle in the postseason.</p><p>Taylor Jenkins has been forced to tinker with lineups over the past few weeks as the veterans heal up. However, the situation could have been a blessing in disguise. Sure, Wells will get playing time as a defensive ace in the NBA Playoffs, but how many shots and minutes can be allotted to the former second-round pick? How long can Wells contain All-World stars before fouls become a problem? It seems the Grizzlies and Wells have yet to hit a ceiling, though some rookie wall woes on offense are worth a watch.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jaylen-Wells-Grizzlies-defends-Devin-Booker-Suns.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The shooting accuracy has suffered recently as Wells has taken on more minutes. Extra defensive responsibilities, an increased offensive volume, and the associated cardio demands have been taxing according to the data. However, Jenkins has not been shy about letting Wells learn on the job. Memphis is all smiles when it comes to their second rounder but they are monitoring two key categories. The first thing the Grizzlies need to see from Wells down the stretch is better shooting numbers.</p><ul><li><b>Season:</b> 10.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists</li><li><b>Last 5:</b> 4.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists</li><li><b>Last 15:</b> 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists</li></ul><p>Postseason opponents will punish any non-shooter on the court. As things stand, Jenkins is likely to go with an eight or nine-man rotation in the NBA Playoffs. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Santi Aldama are the core four. Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke will have to spell Jackson Jr. for stretches. Luke Kennard’s shooting will come in handy off the bench.</p><p>Jaylen Wells being able to handle 30 minutes a night as an offensive threat would help negate the defensive weaknesses of Scotty Pippen Jr., GG Jackson, and Vince Williams. The trio might not even be needed as the 10th man in the rotations. Fortunately, Memphis has a good 19 game sample size showing Wells is better off working longer shifts.</p><ul><li><b>2025 (27.2 mpg):</b> 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists</li><li><b>2024 (25 mpg):</b> 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists</li><li><b>30+ minutes (19 games):</b> 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists</li></ul><p>Offensively, Wells has shown promise but remains a work in progress. Better ball-handling and finishing through contact could make him a more versatile threat, but Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will handle most of the bucket-creating burdens though.</p><p>Wells is already playing at an NBA All-Defense level over 60+ regular season games. The inexperience in high-stakes situations is a concern only cured with a trial by fire seven-game series. Wells must prove he can avoid putting opponents on the line though, not an easy task when guarding All-Stars. Improving his ability to read plays off the ball and maintain positioning will be essential to earning trust from Jenkins in high-pressure moments.</p><p>Luka Doncic has drawn <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1642377/head-to-head?dir=D&amp;sort=SFL" rel="noopener">four shooting fouls in just over four minutes</a> against Wells, for example. Crafty vets like CJ McCollum (119 team points, 27 individual in 19 minutes) have given Wells fits as an on-ball defender. It seems the rookie’s off-ball defense and defensive awareness are not yet advanced enough for prolonged NBA floor time either. Face guarding and ball-denying All-Stars will only work for so long in the NBA Playoffs.</p><p>Jaylen Wells has the lateral quickness, wingspan, and 6-foot-8 frame to be a series-tilting, versatile stopper. NBA Playoffs readiness hinges on two glaring concerns: streaky shooting and foul discipline. The rookie must avoid putting opponents on the line and knock down open shots at an average clip. It’s that simple. Thankfully, the 21-year-old has mostly passed those tests this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What Grizzlies need from rookie Jaylen Wells before NBA Playoffs begin

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-rookie-jaylen-wells-deserves-serious-nba-all-defense-consideration');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells deserves serious NBA All-Defense consideration');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Why-Grizzlies-rookie-Jaylen-Wells-will-not-get-serious-NBA-All-Defense-consideration.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells deserves serious NBA All-Defense consideration</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-07T17:04:45-08:00">March 7th, 5:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-07T17:04:45-08:00">March 7th, 5:04pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-shooting-woes-exposed-thunder-shai-gilgeous-alexander-nba">Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies are striving for more</a> than individual awards, but the team will surely be doing everything possible to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-all-star-jaren-jackson-jr-earn-all-nba-supermax-leverage-free-agency-nba-market">get Jaren Jackson Jr. $100 million worth of leverage</a> this summer. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old’s All-NBA and NBA Defensive Player of the Year campaign is on pause due to an ankle injury. Thankfully, the Grizzlies believe they have an NBA All-Defense dynamo roaming the perimeter as well in Jaylen Wells. The 22-year-old has been consistently running through NBA All-Star level roadblocks to drum up serious consideration for more than one award as a rookie.</p><p>Jaylen Wells (11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 37.4% 3PA) will be on the NBA All-Rookie First Team or the fans riot in the FedEx Forum. NBA Rookie of the Year votes are expected, but there is competition for that trophy. However, the stats show the rookie is worth a mention in the varsity-level, veteran-laden awards conversations already.</p><p>Pure totals matter over an 82-game season though. Wells has 36 steals (179th) and six blocks (346th) over 62 games (57 starts). Production per game within the given minutes played does not favor Wells either. His steals (0.6 per game) and blocks (0.1 per game) are below average, but field goal percentage against All-Star matchups is a plus. Wells cannot steal a pass or block a shot if his full-court ball press denies his assignment any opportunities at all. So why are we talking Jaylen Wells NBA All-Defense before the first 82-game sample is in again?</p><h2><b>Where NBA voters see value</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jaylen-Wells-Ja-Morant-defense-Grizzlies-.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Wells has a 46.1% Defended Field Goal Percentage. That might not be great on first look, but <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1642377/head-to-head" rel="noopener">factor in the stars shooting</a> and it’s a different picture. The rookie is keeping All-Star in check, making them look merely average often. Wells made history in holding Stephen Curry to the worst offensive output of a Hall of Fame career. Curry finished 0-for-7 and a pitiful two points (Dec. 20). Wells was the primary tracker for Damian Lillard’s four points on 1-12 shooting on Halloween. Anthony Edwards shot just 12-32 combined in January.</p><p>The type of shots faced (9.9 per game) should be factored in as well. Wells is chasing everyone off of the three-point line, facing less than one beyond the arc bomb per quarter (3.6). Most opponents are forced to pull up from beyond 15 feet though (4.9) and with only a 34.1% swish rate.</p><p>Edwards has 13 points (33.3% FGA) in 19 minutes against Wells. Deven Booker has four points (12.5% FGA) in just under 18 minutes versus the rookie. Chris Paul has two points, six assists, and three turnovers over 16:50 in action. Follow-up dates with Booker, Darius Garland, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic are coming up soon.</p><p>Taylor Jenkins could help matters by giving Wells (26.1) more on-court time per game. Show that trust. Being seen stuck to All-Stars all night is one way to get noticed, for better or worse. At least give the rookie a chance to sink or swim. No more safety vests in the weeks before the NBA Playoffs. It’s time to find out just how much foul trouble Wells can avoid over 35-40 minutes. John Konchar and Vince Williams will understand.</p><h2><b>Grizzlies, Jaylen Wells working overtime</b></h2><p>Fans should prepare for disappointment after Wells receives little to no votes? Rudy Gobert has won four of the last seven NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. While not quite at those former peaks individually, anchoring the Minnesota Timberwolves into a top-four seed with a top-five team defensive rating is a strong standalone argument. Jaren Jackson Jr., NBA DPOY in 2022-23, will be the Grizzlies’ All-Defense representative. Other Defensive Player of the Year winners are warming up their spots in the team as well, leaving little room for the rookie.</p><p>The Grizzlies traded Marcus Smart, 2021-22’s winner, after an injury-riddled stint in Memphis, and he is in no danger of being nominated for anything after another season on the sidelines. However, Draymond Green (2016-17) is having a late career resurgence now that Jimmy Butler is buddied up with Stephen Curry. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20) has brought the Milwaukee Bucks back from the dead after a 2-8 start to the season.</p><p>The NBA All-Defense Team’s frontcourt is practically set. Alperen Sengun, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Evan Mobley will appear in some order. Rudy Gobert may push Antetokounmpo into one of the wing positions. Lu Dort and Jalen Williams will split votes but no one will be surprised to see the first two on an All-Defense Team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may appear on some ballots, but All-World wonder is arguably worse than teammate Alex Caruso.</p><p>Dyson Daniels and Jrue Holiday are making cases as well. However, voters could go big-heavy. It’s not an equitable way to dole out the honor in a way that respects the entirety of the game, but unfortunately that’s the trend. With the ‘positionless’ selection rules in place, Ivica Zubac and Domantas Sabonis could sneak in as well. Amen Thompson is fighting with Jaylen Wells, yet also pushed out on the fringes as thanks for handling the hardest perimeter assignments.</p><p>When the Grizzlies drafted Jaylen Wells, they knew they were getting a tenacious competitor. No one could have anticipated the 6-foot-8 wingman emerging as one of the NBA’s most impactful defenders so quickly. Voters will be watching how each closes out the season. There are still enough games remaining for both young guards to gain ground as the big men lose steam.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells deserves serious NBA All-Defense consideration

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grizzlies-news-jaylen-wells-stealing-offensive-moves-every-defensive-possession');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins shares eye-opening take on Jaylen Wells’ two-way impact');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/How-Grizzlies-Jaylen-Wells-steals-offensive-moves-on-every-defensive-possession.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins shares eye-opening take on Jaylen Wells’ two-way impact</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-28T21:08:02-08:00">January 28th, 9:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-28T21:08:02-08:00">January 28th, 9:08pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>First-year employees must fight for recognition in any sport or industry. Thankfully for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-taylor-jenkins-accepting-no-excuses-nba-trade-deadline">accept-no-excuses Memphis Grizzlies</a>, Jaylen Wells is carving out his niche with his defensive tenacity and an emerging offensive flair. While dynamic defense has been his calling card, the second-round pick’s offensive game is showing signs of significant growth, <a href="https://twitter.com/DoingItDodson/status/1883188998681882968" rel="noopener">influenced by the very All-Stars being defended.</a></p><p>Wells had to laugh when asked by ClutchPoints about a snake dribble through the lane and floater that mimicked CJ McCollum.</p><p>“I was actually thinking about how yeah, just guarding those moves I just kind of naturally started to do more of them,” Wells admitted. “Being able to guard the best player every night has been helpful for my offensive game, especially when we go back in film and watch it. Just seeing how guys are moving, I’m definitely (stealing offensive moves).”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jaylen Wells on learning nuances and stealing moves from the defensive covers: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GrindCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GrindCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/g9eYlLbI0j">pic.twitter.com/g9eYlLbI0j</a></p><p>— Dodson (@DoingItDodson) <a href="https://twitter.com/DoingItDodson/status/1883188998681882968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Jenkins has been effusive in his praise for Wells, particularly highlighting the rookie’s resilience against some of the league’s top scorers.</p><p>“I’ve said it before about Jaylen Wells, he does not get deterred. I mean he is going against some of the best offensive scorers night in and night out. They can score in many different ways and (Wells) is having a lot of success (on defense),” Jenkins boasted. “(Wells) is not getting deterred and just playing within himself on the offensive side in our system.”</p><p>“(Wells) has got some creativity that I’ve been seeing like some of the plays you are talking about,” added Jenkins. “His dribble game and finding angles when defenders cut him off. It might be an outlet pass or how he is still able to get a finish opportunity. He is playing on balance and it’s impressive to watch this early in his career.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaylen-Wells-Grizzlies-guards-Jalen-Brunson-Knicks.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Grizzlies are giving Jaylen Wells the toughest defensive assignments but also the freedom to freelance when necessary. The 21-year-old usually just sticks with the full-court denial blueprint that has worked so far. Face-guarding NBA All-Stars is one way to have the offensive nuances rub off on the rookie.</p><p>“I enjoy (face-guarding all game). I look forward to it now. (CJ McCollum) asked me in the middle of the game if I do it every night. Had to tell him, ‘Yup, yup.’ It’s fun for me,” Wells admitted. “I haven’t tried (asking for a defensive assignment switch) yet. They’ve started giving me freedom on ball screens, saying to just figure it out. So I’ve got freedom there.”</p><p>This light-hearted approach to the game, combined with a serious commitment to improvement, reinforced the front office’s bet that Wells is a very promising player. It is also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-exclusive-jaylen-wells-prepares-nba-rookie-of-the-year-campaign">why Jaylen Wells is also a Grizzlies fan favorite</a>. His journey from a rookie learning the ropes to stealing moves from some of the league’s best is a narrative of growth, resilience, and the joy of basketball. Jenkins and the Grizzlies just have to let the young man continue to learn against the best.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins shares eye-opening take on Jaylen Wells’ two-way impact

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grizzlies-news-exclusive-jaylen-wells-prepares-nba-rookie-of-the-year-campaign');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: How Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells preps for battle amid Rookie of the Year campaign');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Exclusive-How-Jaylen-Wells-prepares-for-battle-amid-Rookie-of-the-Year-campaign.jpg"></figure><h1>Exclusive: How Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells preps for battle amid Rookie of the Year campaign</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-27T12:25:57-08:00">January 27th, 12:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-27T12:25:57-08:00">January 27th, 12:25pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Exclusive</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Welcome to the NBA moments are usually rough on rookies. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-bothered-disappointed-after-beating-lamelo-ball-hornets">not-quite-dialed-in Memphis Grizzlies</a> have an exception to that unwritten rule though. It took less than 40 games for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-everythnig-taylor-jenkins-loves-about-jaylen-wells-display-lamelo-ball-hornets">Grizzlies to find out Jaylen Wells can get emotional</a>, in a good way, while waging war with NBA All-Stars. Veterans on opposing teams are shooing the rookie away out of respect while trying to shake free. They have not been successful and it’s not much of a secret why. It was obvious as ClutchPoints walked through a routine day with Wells before a 125-103 win over the Utah Jazz.</p><p>Fans in the FedEx Forum can rest assured as one trait has stood out going back to NBA Summer League: Jaylen Wells wakes up thinking about how to best put a rubber band around the next opponent’s best player. Being able to bend but never break starts early and there is only one way to reasonably expect championship results. Do the work early and often.</p><p>“I like to stretch every morning. That’s one of the things I do that is constant,” Wells shared. “The main thing is in the morning and before bed I always stretch, do my yoga routine.”</p><p>Forget the cartoons and cereal boxes littered through most college dorms. No one holds hands in the pros and rookie checks only go so far. An all-business Wells is one of the first in the gym when the Grizzlies play home games and takes few if any detours. The in-house chefs have a better spread of options and it’s more nutritionally sound than a stop at McDonald’s or the Waffle House.</p><p>“I always take advantage of the meals (at the facility),” Wells laughed. “I’m grabbing breakfast from here.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaylen-Wells-Grizzlies-yoga-pose-Taylor-Jenkins.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Individual skill work, film study, and more stretching follow. Lunch boxes start appearing, and disappearing, as others file in for treatment. Pregame shootarounds sessions depend on tip-off times. Travel days are tough on the schedule but once in the gym, some parts of the routine are non-negotiable.</p><p>Warriors of all cultures throughout history have come together before battle. Everyone’s ‘lock-in’ looks different and it’s not wise to get in the way of that process. Jaylen Wells gets the shots up early on game days. Some pregame banter with the other early group guys (Scotty Pippen Jr., Jake LaRavia, Jay Huff) helps take the edge off a bit. There is an argument about the best NCAA basketball conference before facing the Jazz, for example.</p><p>No matter what is going on, Wells is going to wander off about an hour before the game starts though. It’s time for Chapel.</p><p>“I think it’s a good moment to just get into The Word,” Wells shared. “That is something that I’ve been trying to do more recently is be connected more with God. I feel like I haven’t been as connected to Him as I should have been in the past so that’s something I’m kind of working on.”</p><p>Faith and confidence go hand-in-hand for Wells. The head has to be right before the body will listen.</p><p>“It’s good to get 10 to 15 minutes before every game, about an hour before the game,” Wells added. “It’s kind of a calm before the storm type of feel.”</p><p>This was a quick conversation concerning no sect nor denomination, just the Spirit. Then it was time to clear out of the way and back to the press box. Wells and some other players would be back soon for a snack. Then the Grizzlies would be fueling the pregame energy with some music before Taylor Jenkins gives the pregame speech.</p><p>We did get a chance to talk about how hoops can bring people and cultures together then the chat ended with something new to Wells: The Sportsman’s Prayer.</p><p><i>To the Almighty Commissioner above we pray that </i><i>when Your great Scorekeeper comes to mark against our names – have mercy in judging not on whether we won or lost but on how we played The Game.</i></p><p>The <a href="https://artemaltman.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2017/04/alumnus-football/" rel="noopener">prayer is repurposed prose</a> from Grantland Rice’s “Alumnus Football” but surely the great scribe will not mind. Wells smiled, took it for what it was to him, and was soon bounding through the locker room’s rear hallway. About two hours later the Grizzlies had another win. The 21-year-old had another argument for not only some NBA Rookie of the Year love but also NBA All-Defense Team consideration.</p><p>Wells has played The Game well and has been everything the Grizzlies hoped for plus a few buckets. He finished with 16 points (5-8 FGA, 2-4 3PA), four rebounds, and just a single personal foul committed in the win over Utah. The defensive dynamo was arguably more impressive on the other end of the floor. Lauri Markkanen needed 14 shots to score 11 points (5-14 FGA, 1-8 3PA) with Wells as the main defensive cover.</p><p>Getting the best of an NBA All-Star who barely knows a rookie’s name is one thing. Keeping household names in check on a nightly basis gets noticed.</p><p>For Jaylen Wells, well, it’s almost becoming routine.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: How Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells preps for battle amid Rookie of the Year campaign

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grizzlies-news-everythnig-taylor-jenkins-loves-about-jaylen-wells-display-lamelo-ball-hornets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies love how ’emotional’ Jaylen Wells went after LeMelo Ball');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/What-Grizzlies-love-about-Jaylen-Wells-on-display-vs.-LaMelo-Balls-Hornets.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies love how ’emotional’ Jaylen Wells went after LeMelo Ball</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-23T15:08:51-08:00">January 23rd, 3:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-23T15:56:15-08:00">January 23rd, 3:56pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Some nights can highlight both the highs and lows of life in the NBA. Rookie Jaylen Wells can attest to that after trying to corral LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets. Ball might have scored 22 points but it took 20 shows and a few unearned free throws as far as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-ja-morant-bothered-disappointed-after-beating-lamelo-ball-hornets">Ja Morant’s grumbling Memphis Grizzlies</a> are concerned. Taylor Jenkins was not worried about the fouls or Ball’s stats though. The entire arena fed off of the defensive dynamo’s passion in the 132-120 win.</p><p>Fans in the FedEx Forum got loud in showing their appreciation for the effort while hounding the refs. Wells even got a little “emotional” while guarding Ball due to some confusing foul calls by the officials. Still, Jenkins appreciated how the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grizzlies-news-revelations-podcast-jaren-jackson-jr-desmond-bane-ja-morant">Grizzlies rookie known as J-Murda</a> in the locker room <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPQk2HY9t4" rel="noopener">rebounded from a rough start</a>.</p><p>“I love his poise and demeanor. Naturally going to get emotional at times when you’re trying to figure out why something is being called or not called,” Jenkins admitted. “It’s a learning process for (Wells). It’s tough with what offensive players can get away with on certain nights but I love his poise and determination to stay with it. Unfortunately, he got some fouls called but it did not deter him from going out there and trying to execute the game plan. That’s what I love about the kid.”</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jaylen-Wells-Grizzlies-vs-LaMelo-Ball-Hornets.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jaylen Wells does not linger on the last play. Asking questions is best left for film study. Getting back into the fight and figuring out what works at the moment is a big part of the development plan. The Grizzlies have gotten the best out of Wells by, well, staying out of J-Murda’s way. The 21-year-old has been up to the challenge of slowing down All-Stars at every turn after all and the offense is coming around.</p><p>Guardrails sometimes limit growth and this war with Ball was more mental than physical. Only live-fire reps can prepare a player for what is to come in the postseason.</p><p>“(Wells) is not searching for answers when something is not going his way like what the heck happened,” Jenkins shared. “He is just locking in on the next play. I thought he was playing some really good defense on (LaMelo Ball).”</p><p>Next up for Wells is another battle with CJ McCollum, perhaps the only veteran who has gotten the best of the rookie this season. McCollum has scored 62 points in two meetings between the New Orleans Pelicans and Grizzlies already. Ball is an All-Star who barely broke 20 and needed help. Wells will look forward to keeping the 33-year-old under 30 points for once.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
10.5	3.3	1.7	0.1	0.6

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
10.5	3.3	1.7	0.1	0.6

Jaylen Wells

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Exclusive: How Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells preps for battle amid Rookie of the Year campaign

Grizzlies love how ’emotional’ Jaylen Wells went after LeMelo Ball

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