Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick, is already walking into training camp on Tuesday with the Memphis Grizzlies ready to impact winning right from the jump. This dude is not messing around. After absolutely lighting it up for Duke, leading them to the Elite Eight, Boozer isn’t just focused on individual glory, even though the Rookie of the Year award is definitely on the table.
College Dominance and Rookie of the Year Buzz
Let’s just talk about the numbers for a second, because they’re insane. This guy was the consensus National Player of the Year, dropping a ridiculous 22.5 points, grabbing 10.2 rebounds, and dishing out 4.1 assists per game, all while shooting a smooth 39.1% from deep. Think about that for a second. He’s the only freshman in history to rack up at least 700 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 assists in a single season. The kid was basically a one-man wrecking crew.
He ranked second in the entire country in points with 855, second in field goals made with 290, third in rebounds with 389, and fifth in free throws with 221. Oh, and he tied for the most double-doubles with 22, becoming only the second Duke freshman ever to hit that mark. Boozer is stepping into the league as one of the absolute favorites for Rookie of the Year, and honestly, can you blame anyone for thinking that after seeing those stats?
“Winning First” Mentality and Coach’s Game Plan
But here’s the kicker, the 19-year-old Boozer isn’t just chasing hardware. He’s all about team success, saying, “I have goals, but at the end of the day, if you win games, it’s going to help you achieve those goals. For me, the biggest thing is impacting winning, whatever that means for me this year. If I help the team win games, I’m going to put myself in a great position to win Rookie of the Year or achieve any other goals that I have.” That’s the kind of attitude you want in your top pick.
His coach, Tuomas Iisalo, is already hyping up his passing, calling it “very, very high level” and something they’ll “definitely utilize.” Boozer, a 6-foot-8 force, is lauded for his versatile scoring, playmaking, ball-handling, and maturity, which is wild for a guy so young. Iisalo gets it though; he knows there will be an adjustment period for the 19-year-old, even with how developed Boozer already is. We got a glimpse of his potential in summer league, where he averaged 18.5 points, eight rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals, earning a spot on the All-Summer League first team and ranking second in points in Vegas. Boozer, the son of former 13-year veteran Carlos Boozer, promises fans will see his “feel for the game, my decision-making, attacking defenders, getting downhills, making reads,” and ultimately, him “making plays and being a decision-maker.”
Training camp is starting on Tuesday for Boozer and the Grizzlies. Everyone will be watching to see how this incredibly talented rookie translates his winning mentality and insane college stats to the NBA. Get ready for some serious impact.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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