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The Memphis Grizzlies were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night in their final game of the season.
The team’s standing in the playoffs was already decided so there wasn’t a lot of energy dedicated to scoring a win.
But one player came out swinging in a huge way.
Rookie player Kenny Lofton Jr scored 42 points and 14 rebounds during his first career start.
NBA analyst Shams Charania gave insight into Lofton’s role within the team and what might come next for him.
“Kenny Lofton Jr. – a 4-year contract, he got $1M in guaranteed salary just for the final weekend of the regular season… he scores 42 points, 14 rebounds,” Charania said on FanDuel TV.
“Kenny Lofton Jr. – a 4-year contract, he got $1M in guaranteed salary just for the final weekend of the regular season… he scores 42 points, 14 rebounds”@ShamsCharania on #Grizzlies signing Kenny Lofton Jr. to an #NBA contract#RunItBack #BigMemphis pic.twitter.com/pJ4Flr4W1M
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) April 11, 2023
With his huge night, Lofton was the first player to post a 40-point, 10-rebound game in his first start.
So far this season, he has averaged just 5.9 minutes per game and has put up 5 points and 2.1 rebounds.
His showing at the end of the season means that the Grizzlies might be using him a lot in the future, including in the next few weeks.
Charania mentioned that Lofton’s size could very much help the team in the playoffs, especially since big man Steven Adams will be sitting out with an injury.
At six-foot-seven and 240 pounds, Lofton might end up being a huge part of the team’s success.
It’s not every day that we see a young star sign such a big deal right at the end of the season.
But if his last game is any indication, Lofton might be worth every penny for the Grizzlies.
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