Cameron Boozer, 19, is playing 33.1 minutes a night for a Memphis team that has not lost yet. He rebounds and passes like a veteran, but his 27.9% shooting from the field says his scoring still has a long way to go.
What is Boozer's job on this roster?
He is the forward who never comes off the floor. Boozer logs 33.1 minutes a game, more than anyone in the rotation and ahead of Ty Jerome's 31.3. Jerome carries the scoring at 29.8 a game, so Boozer does the heavy lifting: 10.5 boards, 4.8 assists and enough passing from the frontcourt to keep defenses honest. Memphis took him third overall to be a building block, and he is playing like one already.
How is a 27.9% shooter putting up 14.8 a night?
He gets to the line and cashes in. Boozer is making 94.7% of his free throws, and that holds up a 27.9% mark from the field and a true shooting of 42.5%. The true shooting number is the problem. He is taking 6.8 threes a game and hitting 25.9% of them. A rookie who earns his points at the stripe is fine. One who keeps settling from deep at that rate is giving away possessions.
Do the advanced numbers like him more than the box score does?
They do. His offensive rating is 120.0 and his defensive rating 106.8, a net of plus-13.2. He grabs 14.3% of available rebounds, has an assist percentage of 18.6% and a usage rate of 23.6%. That is a kid helping his team win while his own shot goes cold. His 2.3 turnovers a game are acceptable for a 19-year-old who handles the ball this much.
What did the Golden State game show?
How high he can go. In the 111-108 win at the Warriors on Oct. 23, Boozer put up 25 points and 13 rebounds next to Jerome's 28. It was a three-point road game, and he was the second option who did not shrink when it got close. Nights like that are why Memphis can live with his cold stretches. His work on the glass travels even when the jumper does not.
Is he healthy, and what does his contract look like?
He is not on the injury report, and that matters on a roster that has juggled Lopez, Edey, Coward and Stewart this month. His deal pays $11.8M this season, $12.4M in 2027-28, $13.0M in 2028-29 and $16.5M in 2029-30. That is already the fourth-largest salary on the payroll, behind Jerami Grant, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Stewart, which is a fair price for a starter-level workload.
How is Cameron Boozer playing for the Grizzlies?
Boozer is playing 33.1 minutes a game with 14.8 points, 4.8 assists and 10.5 boards, but he is shooting 27.9% from the field and 25.9% from three.
What is Cameron Boozer's contract with Memphis?
He makes $11.8M this season, and his deal runs through 2029-30, when it rises to $16.5M.
