Memphis Grizzlies rookie forward Brandon Clarke impressed during a victorious showing in the Las Vegas Summer League, garnering MVP honors after a 15-point, 16-rebound performance in the final game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The experience has given him a window preview to what he will experience under this coaching staff, as head coach Taylor Jenkins took on the helm this summer to develop a rapport with his young players.
“I feel like I'll just fit in perfectly [with Memphis] because his system and his culture is similar to what it was like at college at Gonzaga,” Brandon Clarke said of Jenkins, according to The Associated Press. “It was just really fun playing for him. He was just a really great coach. Every day he was up to play hard and up to get us better. It was awesome playing for him.”
Clarke played at center through part of this Summer League, allowing Jenkins to space the floor with more shooters, which paid dividends for his rebounding and shot-blocking.
At 6-foot-8, Clarke — the 21st pick of the draft — hauled in six offensive rebounds, blocked three shots and nabbed a steal in the win, playing an instrumental part at both ends of the floor.
Jenkins himself had his share of fun coaching this young group to a Summer League title.
“It was a lot of fun, this is why I do what I do,” said Jenkins, the only NBA head coach to coach a summer league team. “I love to compete, love to teach and have a great group of guys on the court and our staff off the court. It was so much fun to work with them for 20 days. It's a lot to do in a short amount of time. And to be able to win a championship is fun. I told the guys this morning, when you have a chance to win a championship, there's nothing like it.”
The Grizzlies have already equipped themselves with some solid young talent, adding others like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to that core. While the results might not be immediate, Memphis has put the right cogs in place to set themselves up for the future.
