Feb 5, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) reacts during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Grizzlies Select Javon Small in 2025 NBA Draft

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 10:00 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies were active in the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday night, trading up from 16 to 11 to select Washington State/Duke wing Cedric Coward.

They entered the second round of the Draft with two selections: 48 and 56. They stuck on the board despite all of the movement in the Draft, and took an elite defensive guard.

William Purnell-Imagn Images

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Javon Small with the 48th overall pick, a 6'1" guard from West Virginia. Small averaged 18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.5 SPG in his senior season with the Mountaineers. He shot the ball well, too, at 35.3% from three on more than seven attempts per game.

Small started his career at East Carolina, spending two years there, before transferring to Oklahoma State for his third season, and then ended his career at West Virginia under Darian DeVries.

The Memphis Grizzlies have selected Javon Small with the No. 48 pick.

Tough, well-rounded guard with strong role-playing qualities, who carried an undermanned West Virginia team with his defense and ability to create off the dribble this season. pic.twitter.com/QXnNlFYv6H
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025

Yahoo! Sports NBA Draft expert Kevin O'Connor summarized Small as "an undersized guard who plays bigger than his body thanks to his excellent athleticism and gritty nature. He’s a knockdown shooter off the catch and a solid lead guard, though his lack of size puts a natural cap on his upside."

O'Connor lists shooting, athleticism, defense, playmaking, and defense as his strengths, with size and shooting off the dribble as his only weaknesses.

Small has drawn comparisons to Terry Rozier, who has had a solid NBA career as a smaller, undersized guard, something Small could take inspiration from. Memphis has needed a backup playmaker with Ja Morant's questionable availability.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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