
Jerami Grant is finally back in the Portland Trail Blazers rotation. After 14 games on the sidelines, Grant’s impact became apparent as soon as he played. The Blazers’ offense got a shot in the arm, as Tiago Splitter’s system had another dynamic offensive player.
For the past few weeks, the Portland Trail Blazers have relied on Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe. They have been in charge of the offense without an established third option. Before Jerami Grant’s injury, he was firmly the third option behind the other two.
Losing him to an injury hurt Tiago Splitter’s system because the offense became stale. With Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko entering the starting lineup, opponents knew who to focus on. They have made some great improvements, but Grant is still the finished product.
Grant played his first game after recovering from his injury on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks. It was a tough test immediately because he had to play against breakout star Jalen Johnson. In his 23 minutes, Grant was impressive with 16 points and two blocks.
“I think he’s not there yet, as the way he left. 16 points in 23 minutes, I’ll take it every day. He’s just got a guy who will find a score, to be effective, and defend McCollum and Johnson. Gives us something that we’ve been missing,” Splitter said after beating the Hawks.
Having Grant back is so nice. Portland desperately needed another scorer off the bench and Jerami was awesome there to start the season
— (@503Blazerfans) January 16, 2026
It is important to have a veteran like Grant on the roster. Most of the core group of players are quite young, so Grant’s experience stands out. The same goes for Jrue Holiday, who has also returned to the rotation recently.
This season, Grant is averaging 19.8 points per game. Those are important numbers for a team that wants to reach the postseason. With a core of Avdija, Sharpe, Holiday, and Grant, they have a superb offense. That gets better with Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan providing the hustle.
For the entire 2025-26 season, the Blazers have been dealing with issues on offense. Avdija and Sharpe have done well to carry them on that end, but Grant has also been helpful. He is the type of player who can have big games without needing the ball all the time.
Grant is the biggest off-ball threat on the Blazers’ roster. His movement shooting makes him such a strong kick-out option. At the same time, he is also quite reliable when slashing into the paint.
instant. impact. pic.twitter.com/VWaV7oDYmy
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 16, 2026
With Grant on the roster, three-point shooting is a much more valid offensive scheme. Grant’s shooting is reliable, whether it’s off the bounce or as a spot-up shooter. He can also serve as an isolation scorer whenever Avdija or Sharpe need a break from handling the ball.
Splitter has done well as the acting head coach for Portland since their second game. Chauncey Billups had a full training camp as the head coach, but Splitter is now serving as the shot-caller.
Splitter’s system has maximized Avdija’s impact. He is given free rein to attack the paint as much as he wants, which leads to his free-throw-heavy offense.
With Grant’s return, Avdija and Sharpe can operate with more space. They will not play against every top defender because Grant will command a good matchup. With everything coming together in time, the Blazers could be a threat in the postseason.
Of course, they are still waiting on other players, such as Scoot Henderson and Matisse Thybulle. This Blazers roster can truly compete with any team, especially when they have Grant’s impact in any role he plays.
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