Taylor Hendricks may not have arrived in Memphis with the loudest label, but he could end up being one of the most important pieces in the Grizzlies’ reshaped roster.
The 6-foot-9 forward with a 7-foot-1 wingspan came into the league with real two-way upside. Utah took him No. 9 overall in the 2023 draft out of UCF, making him the highest and first selection in Knights history. As a freshman, he put up 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while shooting 39.4% from three, and the package was obvious: size, mobility and real shooting touch.
Hendricks backed that up as a rookie. Over his final 23 games of the 2023-24 season, he averaged 9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists while hitting 40.4% of his threes.
Then came the injury that derailed everything. On Oct. 28, 2024, in just the third game of the season for the Jazz, Hendricks fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in a non-contact fall against Dallas. He was stretchered off the floor and never played again that season.
He made his way back over the summer and returned to NBA action to open the 2025-26 season, but his role in Utah never really had room to grow. He spent the first half of that season stuck behind a crowded frontcourt on a tanking team, and in 33 games before the trade deadline he averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per night.
Then Memphis stepped in and changed the picture. On Feb. 3, 2026, Jaren Jackson Jr. was sent to Utah, and the Grizzlies brought back Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson and three first-round picks.
Hendricks debuted for Memphis on Feb. 6 against Portland and settled into his new role quickly. His best run came from mid-February through mid-March.
He had 15 points, 10 rebounds and three steals against Golden State on Feb. 10 for his first double-double of the season. On March 1 against Indiana, he came off the bench and scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including five threes.
He added another double-double on March 12 against Dallas, then followed that with a career-high six steals and three blocks on March 19 against Denver.
Injuries again interrupted the momentum. Thumb and finger issues limited him the rest of the way, and he finished with 26 games for Memphis.
Even so, the numbers stood out: 10.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals in nearly 25 minutes a night. That was more than double the scoring he had earlier in the season.
The defensive indicators were just as eye-catching. His per-36 numbers with Memphis included 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks, a hint at how disruptive he can be when he’s on the floor and in rhythm.
The question now is whether the shot can hold up. Hendricks made 32.4% of his threes with Memphis, a dip from 34.3% in Utah before the trade. If that number climbs into the high 30s, there’s a path for him to become a full-time rotation player, maybe even a starter.
This season brings another new look for him. Memphis has added Cameron Boozer, Isiah Stewart and Quinten Post, and Edey is returning from injury.
Still, Hendricks could give the Grizzlies something different by sliding to small forward or even shooting guard at times. His ability to switch across positions, protect the rim and space the floor gives Memphis lineup options it can actually use.
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