Tag: Kenneth Lofton Jr.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Bane, Kennard Help Grizzlies Storm Back to Victory

Desmond Bane going up for a layup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Friday night’s bad weather didn’t stop the Memphis Grizzlies from beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-94. The Grizzlies overcame a 20-point deficit in the first quarter to secure their 34th home victory of the season. 

The 14-point victory was the largest margin of victory in team history in a game where the Grizzlies trailed by 20 or more points, according to Sportradar.

“We kind of just settled down towards the end of the first. I just reminded them to just keep staying the course,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “It’s a long game. We’re starting to feel out what this game is going to need from us. Then we battle back, have a great second quarter.”

Jenkins continued, “We take a lead and build a 20-point lead in the second half. Proud of the guys. It’s a 48-minute game, and we had these looks in our eyes like ‘Hey, what’s going on right now?’ in the first quarter. Luckily, we were able to turn the corner before it got too late.”

Desmond Bane was in his bag, scoring 22 points and tying a career-high nine assists, plus three steals to lead the Grizzlies to 49-28 on the season. 

Luke Kennard tallied 17 points and six rebounds off the bench while connecting on 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. 

Ja Morant praised Kennard’s shooting after the game. “He could shoot then [with the Clippers] and he can shoot now,” Morant said about Kennard as an opponent, and now a teammate. “He’s on our side now. We believe in him 100 percent.” Morant finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. 

Xavier Tillman Sr. had a solid 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Santi Aldama got 13 points and eight rebounds as a reserve. 

Surprising highlight dunk

David Roddy absolutely destroyed Ivica Zubac.

“That definitely surprised me, I say that respectfully,” said Jenkins on Roddy’s emphatic dunk. “I know he’s got some bounce, and he’s got some force, but that was a pretty epic dunk for sure. Once he gets a runway, you watch out.”

Tibits

Kenny Lofton, Jr. was named Kia G League Rookie of the Year. Lofton Jr. averaged 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 17 games during the regular season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. improved on his previous personal best in blocks, and set a franchise record in the process. The All-Star forward added three blocks in last night’s game to reach 180 and set a new franchise record for most blocks in a season, which he achieved last year with 177 in 78 games. This year, Jackson Jr. only needed 59 games to set the new mark. He leads the NBA with a career-high 3.1 blocks per game.  

Jackson Jr. also had nine points and two steals against the Clippers. “It’s cool – glad we could do it at home,” said Jackson Jr. on setting the single season franchise record in blocks. “Glad we could get a win; glad all my teammates signed the basketball, kept the jersey. I mean, it all fits. It’s a cool feeling.”

For the Grizzlies, unsung heroes emerged to give them a victory before a happy home crowd. For those fans, it was fitting to get revenge on the Clippers. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will travel to Chicago to play the Bulls at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 2. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies’ Road Woes Continue

Desmond Bane goes up for a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 2, 2023. (Credit: NBAE via Getty Images)

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies lost their second-consecutive game. The hot Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Memphis, 128-113, before a nationally televised audience on TNT. Memphis has now lost seven of its last eight games and six straight road games. 

The Grizzlies had a tough time dealing with Cleveland’s Jared Allen and Evan Mobley. Memphis was without Jaren Jackson, Jr., who sat out due to right thigh soreness. (Jackson was visibly limping in the loss to Portland on Wednesday night.) The Grizzlies are also missing starting center Steven Adams for an extended period of time with a PCL sprain. 

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 25 points while connecting on 6-of-7 from three. Ja Morant added 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Santi Aldama recorded a career-high 21 points, tying a career best with four 3-pointers, and 10 rebounds.

Dillon Brooks and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell were both ejected after a scuffle midway through the third quarter. Brooks is likely to receive a fine and or suspension for hitting Mitchell in the groin. 

All-Star Reserves and Rising Stars

Prior to the game, Morant and Jackson, Jr. were selected as All-Star reserves for the 72nd NBA-All Star game in Salt Lake City, Utah. All-Star festivities are Feb. 17-19. It was the first time in franchise history that multiple players were selected as All-Stars. 

Morant became the first player in team history to be selected in back-to-back All-Star games. Last season he was named as a starter. Morant is averaging 27.4 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. 

It’s the first All-Star selection for Jackson, Jr. After missing 14 games at the start of the season, the 23-year-old has anchored one of the best defenses in the league. He is averaging 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 1.0 in 35 games this season, and has recorded 4 or more blocks in 15 games. 

Grizzlies two-way player Kenneth Lofton, Jr. was selected to participate in the Jordan Rising Stars, representing the Memphis Hustle. Junior is one of seven G-League players selected. In 10 games for the Hustle, Lofton is averaging 18.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals.

Up Next

The Grizzlies look to get back in the win column on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors to start a three-game homestead. Tip-off: 5 p.m. CT. 

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Sports

The Grizzlies Gear Up for a New Season

Ja Morant (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

It has been a long, hot summer but the return of Grizzlies basketball is almost upon us.

There were a lot of fresh faces at the Grizzlies preseason media day, as well as the absence of Kyle Anderson, who signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the off-season, and De’Anthony Melton, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that sent veteran Danny Green to Memphis.  

Five newcomers will be joining the squad in training camp with hopes of securing a roster spot. Four of these were draft-night acquisitions — Jake LaRavia, Kennedy Chandler, David Roddy, and Vince Williams Jr., while Kenneth Lofton Jr. was picked up after going undrafted.  

Lofton was signed as a two-way player after an impressive showing during Summer League. His size and awareness around the rim are very reminiscent of a baby Zach Randolph.

If Lofton’s performance against Chet Holgram, this year’s second draft pick, is any indication of things to come we should all be watching his career with great interest.  

Vince Williams Jr. was also signed as a two-way player so expect to see him getting minutes alongside Lofton with the Memphis Hustle, the team’s G-league affiliate.  

Grizzlies general manager and 2022 NBA Executive of the Year Zach Kleiman is confident that there will be full access to the G-League this season, which will increase development opportunities for this latest crop of young players. League restrictions during the height of the Covid pandemic prevented the G-League from having the full 50-game season the past two years.  

The symbiotic relationship between the Grizzlies and Hustle has already borne fruit in the form of guard John Konchar, who spent most of his first two years assigned to the Hustle. Konchar signed a contract extension this summer worth $19 million over three years.  

Veteran guard Danny Green during media day. (Photo by Aimee Stiegemeyer).

Memphis also picked up three-time NBA champion Danny Green, who will add veteran leadership in the locker room and on the court as well as perimeter defense and three-point shooting — areas where the Grizzlies are always looking to improve. Multiple players have expressed excitement about Green’s addition to the squad. Desmond Bane cited Green as one of his role models entering the league. 

Bane also told media members that in order to improve, the squad needs to stay hungry and “do what they did but better” in reference to last year.  

Center Steven Adams indicated that one of the areas he worked on in the offseason was free throw shooting. Adams has a career free-throw shooting percentage of 54 percent, which is … not great. Missing free throws were a huge thorn in the team’s side last season.  

A common theme among returning players was continuing to play with a chip on their shoulders even as they have shed their underdog status. Last season’s playoff run put the team on wider display as championship contenders. The 2022-23 season brings the Grizzlies 18 nationally televised games, the most in franchise history. There will be a lot of eyes on Memphis this season now that the team has effectively put the league on notice. 

As we approach the start of the NBA season, questions persist about who will fill in at the power forward position while Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to rehab from injury. Head coach Taylor Jenkins made it clear that filling that spot would be earned through fierce competition among players. 

Another item of note:  

All teams this year will be wearing a black number 6 patch on the top left corner of their jerseys to honor NBA legend Bill Russell, who passed away at the age of 88 in July.

The NBA will be honoring Russell’s legacy as an 11-time NBA champion and eventually the first Black coach in the NBA by retiring his number 6 across the league. Russell is the first player in NBA history to receive this honor. 

The number 6 patch honoring Bill Russell is seen here on Steven Adams’ jersey. (Photo by Aimee Stiegemeyer).

The Grizzlies will begin their training camp today and will have their first preseason game Saturday, October 1st. The 2022-23 regular season kicks off for Memphis on October 19th when they face the New York Knicks at FedExForum.  

The entire 2022-23 schedule for the Grizzlies can be found here.