Cameron Boozer’s NBA debut came with a box score line he probably never pictured. The former Duke star and reigning National Player of the Year in college basketball opened his pro career by going 0-of-6 from three and 2-of-15 overall, a rough shooting night by any standard.
And yet, the Grizzlies still handled the Utah Jazz 123-103, and Boozer still left a heavy imprint on the game.
He finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in 33 minutes, and he posted a team-best +32 in plus-minus. That number wasn’t just strong for a rookie debut - it was the highest plus-minus in a season opener in Grizzlies franchise history, according to Stat Muse.
Boozer’s first basket came in the second quarter, and it showed exactly how quickly he can spot an opening. Jazz guard Keyonte George ended up switched onto him in the halfcourt, Boozer went right to the post, and the entry pass led to an easy dunk:
Cameron Boozer scores his first NBA points for the Grizzlies #GrindCity #UTAvsMEM pic.twitter.com/SWuRfuVX6w
- False Finish (@FalseFinishHQ) October 22, 2026
That’s the part of Boozer’s game that travels. He notices the mismatch, he attacks it, and he punishes mistakes. Even on a night when the jumper wasn’t there, he kept finding ways to tilt the floor in Memphis’ favor.
That’s what separates him from a lot of players, especially in a first NBA game where frustration can creep in fast. Shots were bouncing out, but Boozer never let the miss-filled night take him out of the action. He stayed engaged and kept making useful plays.
The comparison point from the same night was former UNC star Caleb Wilson, who had a tougher debut in Chicago. Wilson went 7-of-21 for 16 points, added 4 rebounds and no assists, and turned it over 9 times. He finished as a team-worst -45 in the Raptors’ 43-point win.
Boozer and the Grizzlies now head straight into a West Coast trip after the home win over Utah. The stretch includes games against the Warriors, Kings, Jazz and Blazers before they return to Memphis.
Their next stop is Friday night in Golden State, where Boozer will try to shake off the cold shooting and build on everything else he did right in his debut.
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Duke Faces A Real Road Test Against Virginias Toughest Matchups
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Virginia brings its own uneven rsum into the game at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league, but the Cavaliers have enough talent to make this one uncomfortable. Beau Pribula has struggled in recent weeks, yet Duke still has to account for playmakers like defensive back Jacobie Henderson and defensive end Matthew Fobbs-White while trying to find a way to get its offense moving again. [Read more 🡒]