Memphis Grizzlies’ Scotty Pippen Jr. calls Lakers match ‘personal’

by Junna Base November 14, 2024

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. had just put in a strong defensive performance on Halloween night and was sitting at his locker with a group of reporters.

He was asked about his efforts to help limit Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard to a 1-for-12 shooting night in the Grizzlies’ 122-99 win. Pippen mentioned how he took the match to heart after growing up watching Lillard. Then, without prompting, he turned around.

“And one of the coaches there didn’t believe in me either, so I really wanted to show that I could defend well and do my best,” Pippen said.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who Pippen was referring to. Darvin Ham, a Bucks assistant, was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers when Pippen spent parts of two seasons there.

At that moment, it sounded like Pippen’s criticism was aimed more at Ham than at the Lakers organization. A week later he corrected this notion.

“I think this game is still personal,” Pippen said before a Nov. 6 home game against the Lakers. “I would definitely say it’s a challenge for me to go out there and try to prove myself again.”

Pippen scored 14 points and contributed four assists off the bench in a 131-114 win over the Lakers later in the day. The win was sweet, but the Grizzlies will face them again in a quick game Wednesday (9 p.m. CT, ESPN) in Los Angeles.

Resurgent career in Memphis

The Lakers were the team that gave Pippen a chance in the NBA. He went undrafted when he transferred from Vanderbilt in 2022, and they signed him to a two-way contract in July of that year. He spent most of the season with G League affiliate South Bay Lakers, where he averaged 22.2 points per game.

Pippen was released by the Lakers in October 2023 and then re-signed with South Bay. When the Grizzlies came calling in January 2024, he was averaging more than 20 points per game. They gave Pippen a chance to advance his career, and he was one of the team’s most consistent players.

“It’s come full circle,” Pippen said. “When I was there (LA), there wasn’t really much opportunity.”

What happened to the Lakers?

Pippen’s performance as a productive G League player has carried over to Memphis. So much so that one may wonder why the Lakers passed on the young point guard?

Pippen felt he had done enough. And Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis were instrumental in his time in Los Angeles, two players from whom he learned the most over two training camps.

“They believed in me,” Pippen said. “They told me to keep working. I don’t know if they saw that I would go down such a path, so they might be shocked, but these are my people.”

Are you shocked? Apparently James isn’t.

“Was a professional. He grew up with it. He grew up with it,” James said. “He also made a name for himself. He was a professional. I knew it when he was with us and unfortunately he isn’t anymore, but I’m happy for him.”

Another chance against Lakers

Pippen recently joined his father Scottie Pippen to become the first father-son duo in NBA history to record triple-doubles. He averages 12.1 points per game and his 6.5 assists per night are the most of any reserve player in the NBA.

However, he is not a reserve player at the moment. Grizzlies star Ja Morant is injured, so Pippen was pushed into the starting lineup. He’s 2-0 in that role, but his toughest test yet is coming: The Lakers are undefeated at home.

The extra motivation will be there. Pippen won’t be sitting at the end of the bench handing out high-fives this time.

His job will be to lead a Grizzlies team playing its best basketball into a hostile street environment. These are the moments he’s been waiting for in the NBA.

“Just coming (to Memphis), contributing to the team, playing and finally feeling like I belong,” Pippen said.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

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