10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Memphis Grizzlies History

9. Sam Young (36th overall, 2009)

While Sam Young lasted just two full seasons with Memphis, he outplayed where he was selected. He became a near full-time starter in 2010-11, a year the Grizzlies finished one win shy of the Western Conference Finals. Young scored at least 20 points on six different occasions for the Grizzlies.

8. Jaylen Wells (39th overall, 2024)

Starting 74 games in his rookie year as a second round pick, Jaylen Wells has already made his way on this list. The 21-year-old had a third-place Rookie of the Year finish and found his way on the All-Rookie First Team. He had averages of 10.4 points and 3.4 rebounds.

7. Mike Bibby (2nd overall, 1998)

Mike Bibby finds himself a bit lower here due to only playing three years with the franchise, all with miserable teams. Still, he never missed a game for them and posted averages of 14.7 points, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. Bibby had 46 double-doubles and one triple-double in his Grizzlies tenure.

6. Hakim Warrick (19th overall, 2005)

Mostly utilized a a reserve during his four seasons with the Grizzlies, Hakim Warrick proved to be a reliable bench scorer. He averaged over 11 points each year from 2006-07 until 2008-09. Warrick had two 31-point outings in a Memphis jersey.

5. Shane Battier (6th overall, 2001)

In two different years with Memphis, Shane Battier received down votes for Defensive Player of the Year. He started all 78 of his appearances as a rookie, averaging a career-best 14.4 points. Battier averaged more than a steal per game in his first five years, all with the Grizzlies, and at least one block in four of them.

4. Shareef Abdur-Rahim (3rd overall, 1996)

Spending five seasons with the Grizzlies, Shareef Abdur-Rahim was third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1996-97. He would go on to average more than 20 points per contest in each of the following four years. In 1999-00, Abdur-Rahim averaged a double-double in points and rebounds.

3. Jaren Jackson Jr. (4th overall, 2018)

Through seven seasons with Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the league in blocks in both 2021-22 and  2022-23. In the latter season, the  25-year-old was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson Jr. has taken on more of a role on offense as well, averaging over 22 points each of the last two years.

2. Ja Morant (2nd overall, 2019)

Still just 25 years old, Ja Morant has proven to be one of the most electric point guards in the league. Standing at 6-foot-2, Morant was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2021-22, also the first of back-to-back seasons he was an All-Star. Through six years, he has averaged 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.

1. Mike Conley (4th overall, 2007)

Take a look at the Grizzlies all-time leaders, and you will see Mike Conley’s name at the top of numerous categories. That includes in games (788), points (11,733), assists (4,409), and steals (1,161). He was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2012-13.