The NBA Summer League has various functions. It mostly gives young players with prospects. That includes a diverse group of participants. Fans get the opportunity to witness fringe NBA players strive to gain the league’s attention.
However, they also get to see what future stars have to offer. That might include high-profile newcomers. It might potentially refer to sophomores. Even players that had strong rookie seasons may want to show their progress throughout the summer showcase.
Cedric Coward will be doing something similar for the Memphis Grizzlies this summer.
Young Grizzlies star to suit up this summer
Coward mentioned in his 2025-26 exit interview that he intended to participate in the Summer League.
This is a thrilling development. Let it be known that we have never seen Coward after a summer spent working on his game. He began his rookie year recovering from an injury that had kept him sidelined for the majority of the offseason.
In that setting, Coward’s first season was promising. Averages of 13. 6 points and 5. 9 rebounds are decent for a rookie. Coward was one of the league’s best freshmen in 2025-26, and he now has the chance to develop his game.
However, there is still work to be done. Coward has only made 33. 8% of his attempts from beyond this season. It’s not a terrible grade for a freshman, but he’ll need to improve in the long term. Coward, in theory, is a 3-and-D winger who can also make his own shots. If he is not a competent three-point shooter, the rest of his game suffers.
Furthermore, Coward’s decision to play in the Summer League demonstrates his character. It’s a chance for him to develop, and he’s taking advantage of it. Grizzlies supporters should be delighted to see him ready to participate.
Who will be his teammates?
Grizzlies fans should follow the Summer League.
Walter Clayton Jr. should be there. After a difficult rookie year, he requires some polishing. Clayton Jr. needs to improve his overall scoring efficiency, otherwise his position as an NBA rotational player may be jeopardized.
Otherwise, the lineup is presently unknown. Will Javon Small have a normal contract? How about Rayan Rupert? He’s also on a two-way agreement, but he performed well enough this year to warrant another look from Memphis.
Finally, it’s difficult to predict who will be on the team’s Summer League roster. More broadly, it’s difficult to predict which players will be on the Grizzlies in the future years. Most crucially, it is thrilling that Coward will be performing:
