The Memphis Grizzlies suffered their first loss of the season on Monday night, but Ty Jerome remained the focal point. The Grizzlies’ point guard, who has ignited a surge reminiscent of “Linsanity,” poured in 40 points on an efficient 64% shooting against the Pelicans, hitting five of six three-pointers and making seven out of eight free throws. With 1:43 left and Memphis trailing 124-115, Jerome sparked a personal 9-0 run that forced overtime.
Although it’s still early in the season to start MVP conversations, Jerome’s name deserves mention. Currently the sixth-highest scorer in the league, he is averaging 28.3 points per game with impressive shooting splits of 50% from the field, 42% from three, and 88% from the free-throw line.
Many wonder how Jerome, once a G League player, has transformed so dramatically. While that was true five years ago, he has steadily improved as opportunities increased. His scoring climb wasn’t sudden—it’s been foreshadowed by consistent progress.
Jerome has always been a high-impact scorer relative to his minutes. After bouncing around with the Suns, Thunder, and Warriors early in his career, his breakout came with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024-25 season. He averaged 12.5 points per game on shooting splits of 51% overall and 44% from three, finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting and emerging as a reliable playoff scoring option.
In Cleveland’s first-round sweep against the Miami Heat, Jerome put up over 16 points per game, drilling 10 of 20 three-pointers and shooting 51% overall. In Game 1 of that series, he scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter on 6-of-7 shooting. Looking closer, Jerome was producing All-Star-caliber numbers per 36 minutes—22.7 points—which outpaced players like Jamal Murray, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jimmy Butler. The main limitation was his playing time, as Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland were ahead of him in the rotation.
Recognizing his potential, the Grizzlies signed Jerome in the summer of 2025 to a three-year, $28 million deal, which now appears to be one of the best value contracts in the league outside of rookies. Despite playing only 15 games last season due to a calf injury, Jerome remained dominant on a per-minute basis. In his Grizzlies debut, he scored 20 points in 20 minutes, and over the subsequent six weeks, he averaged 0.87 points per minute—matching Kawhi Leonard and ranking fourth in the NBA among players with at least 10 games played.
What’s become clear is that whenever Jerome is on the court, he scores, making his playing time the key variable. This season, he is averaging 30 minutes per game and scoring at an even higher rate of 0.91 points per minute, the fourth-best efficiency among players with a minimum of 100 minutes.
While Jerome’s current scoring pace may not be sustainable at MVP levels, it builds on a trajectory starting in Cleveland. As his minutes and role have expanded, so has his scoring output, with his usage rate now at 31.3%, matching Jalen Brunson’s.
This isn’t a tale of a sudden superstar, but rather an extremely skilled player who has always possessed elite shooting ability, both off the catch and off the dribble, from all over the court. According to Synergy data, Jerome has consistently ranked above the 90th percentile as a pick-and-roll and isolation scorer since his time in Cleveland. His hot start this season is remarkable, but it wasn’t out of the blue.
Fan Take: Ty Jerome’s rise from overlooked G League player to one of the league’s most efficient scorers is an inspiring story that underscores the value of persistence and skill over sheer athleticism. For basketball fans, his breakthrough signals how unheralded players can still become game-changers, reminding us that talent development and opportunity remain vital in the ever-evolving NBA.
Source: www.cbssports.com
