Why Scotty Pippen Jr. is making Lakers regret past decisions

Early in the season, one of the NBA’s unexpected success stories has been the rise of Scotty Pippen Jr., who has emerged as a key contributor off the bench for an ambitious Memphis Grizzlies team.

At 23, Pippen has provided a spark for a franchise aiming for consistency after a turbulent 2023-24 season.

Last season, the Grizzlies struggled with lineup stability, fielding an NBA-record 33 players and cycling through over 50 starting lineups. Pippen was one of those 33 players, signing with Memphis on a two-way contract.

His performances late in the season and a strong showing in the preseason earned him a standard four-year NBA contract.

Pippen has validated the Grizzlies' investment during the opening weeks of the 2024-25 season. He's averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, with a notable 44.4 percent rate from three-point range. His assist average ranks the highest among NBA bench players.

Standing at 6-foot-1, Pippen's most recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 6 marked a highlight. When Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant left the game due to injury, Pippen stepped up, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block, including three made three-pointers.

In doing so, Pippen got one over on his former team, which, unlike Memphis, failed to recognize his talent.

He didn't hold back when asked about his motivation for going up against the Lakers.

“Definitely. They didn’t believe in me. So I’m out here trying my best,” Pippen said.

He made it clear that he had something to prove in the contest. But it isn’t the first time this season that he has taken shots at the Lakers off the court.

Earlier in the season, Pippen openly criticized the purple and gold, along with former coach Darvin Ham, claiming they didn’t believe in his potential during his time in Los Angeles.

“One of the coaches over there didn’t believe in me, so I definitely wanted to show I can play some defense,” Pippen remarked.

On a two-way contract through his rookie 2022 season, Pippen spent most of his time in the G League. Down there, he averaged 22.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Those are standout numbers for a first-year player, and his talent was clear. While the Lakers did re-sign him, they ended up waiving him and sending him down back to South Bay on a standard G League deal.

He delivered impressive performances again in the early stages of the 2023-24 G League season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.4 steals in 17 games.

For the young prospect, his door to the NBA finally opened. But, for the Lakers, they let a talented prospect slip through their fingers just like that.

And now, with Memphis, Pippen has quickly become a key contributor. Making an impact early in the season with his impressive performances off the bench.  

Meanwhile, the Lakers have struggled to get consistent production from their bench. 

They sit 29th league-wide in bench points, with just 20.6 per game. Memphis has the third-most productive bench, with 44.6 points per contest, boosted by its young guard.

Additionally, Memphis is fifth in three-point shooting, with 41.4 percent, while the Lakers are 27th. In most statistics, L.A. is near the bottom of the league.

For a Lakers organization that has often looked externally for contributors, squandering draft capital over the years, there was a talented option right underneath their noses.

It’s fair to say that the Lakers probably wish they had Pippen Jr. back on their side now.