Ty Jerome’s first two games have put him in some rarefied company, even if no one is ready to anoint him as the NBA’s scoring king.
After nearly a week of action, the league’s points leaderboard has a name that would have caught most people off guard: Jerome. The 29-year-old guard opened the season with 45 points against the Utah Jazz, hitting 17 of 25 shots and five threes, then followed that with 28 points against Golden State. That leaves him at 36.5 points per game so far.
Of course, two games do not make a season. Jerome’s start is the kind of tiny sample that invites wild takes, and there’s plenty of reason to avoid jumping too far in either direction. But the opening burst does line up with what he showed in his 15-game sample last year.
In that stretch, Jerome missed most of the 2025-26 season with a right calf strain and left ankle sprain, but he still averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 47.4/42.0/87.5. He did it in just 22.6 minutes per game, which makes the production even louder when you zoom in.
The per-minute math was eye-popping, too. On a per-36-minute basis, Jerome’s production works out to 31.3 points, 9.0 assists and 1.7 steals. His numbers on a per-75-possession basis are similarly strong, though that kind of pace-adjusted profile always comes with the usual caveats about role, team context and opponent quality.
Even so, the usage tells the story. Jerome carried a 32.9 percent usage rate in those 15 games last year, and that number has climbed to 35.9 percent through the first two games this season.
That figure should come down as the season settles in. Cam Boozer has been excellent in his first two NBA games, Zach Edey is finally healthy, and Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer and Jerami Grant are all expected to take on important roles too.
Still, Jerome’s efficiency is real enough to take seriously. He’s dangerous operating out of ball screens, he has a polished touch in the middle of the floor, and he can rise into pull-ups quickly enough to get shots off despite his long, shot-put-style release.
He probably won’t finish as the NBA’s leading scorer. He may not even reach the All-Star Game with the level of competition in the West. But if he stays on the floor, there’s every reason to think this isn’t just a two-game illusion.
In Other News...
Ty Jerome Is Giving The Grizzlies More Than Anyone Expected
The Grizzlies are only a couple games into the 2026-27 season, but Ty Jerome has already shown why Memphis views him as more than a short-term piece. Early returns have been loud enough to stand out even in a league where new faces often need time to settle in, and Jerome has given the Grizzlies a scoring jolt that few around the team likely expected this quickly.
His start has come at a time when other players moving to new homes are also making an immediate mark, from Tyler Herro helping drive the Bucks offense to Walker Kessler settling in well with the Lakers. For Memphis, though, Jeromes early production raises an even more interesting question: how much more can this backcourt spark once the season fully starts to take shape? [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Second-Round Pick Faces A Tough Wait To Start His Career
Richie Saunders path into the Grizzlies organization is already taking an indirect route. The No. 32 pick in the 2026 NBA draft is listed on the Memphis Hustle training camp roster, a strong sign he is beginning on a G League deal while he continues working back from the ACL injury he suffered in February. For a second-round pick, it is not the cleanest arrival into the league, but it does give Memphis a place to monitor his recovery and development up close.
Zach Kleiman has made clear the Grizzlies are approaching Saunders situation with patience, and roster math is part of the reason. Memphis currently has a full slate of standard contracts and all three two-way spots spoken for, so the front office is taking a wait-and-see approach on what comes next for the rookie. If Saunders gets healthy and performs, the door to a standard NBA deal can still open later, but for now his first NBA chapter is set to begin with an uncertain timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Have One Availability Question That Could Change This Matchup
The Grizzlies head into Sundays visit to Sacramento with a chance to keep their early momentum going against a Kings team that has opened the season 0-2. Memphis has started 2-0, and the matchup already has a little extra edge because both sides are dealing with availability issues before tipoff at 6:00 p.m. PT.
Sacramento will be missing three players and has Keegan Murray questionable with an ankle injury, but Memphis has its own frontcourt concern to monitor. The Grizzlies are already adjusting without their starting center, and one more important availability decision could shape how they handle the Kings inside and whether the rotation has to shift again before the ball goes up in Sacramento. [Read more 🡒]