Memphis Grizzlies Pick Duke's Cam Boozer at #3 Overall

92.9 FM ESPN was live at FedExForum for the Memphis Grizzlies 2026 NBA Draft Party on Tuesday, June 23rd. The Memphis Grizzlies made a fan favorite pick in #3 selection Cam Boozer it appears.

Later the Memphis Grizzlies traded down twice, landing at #21 in the first round. In the process, Memphis acquired additional second round assets followed by the selection of the first Mexican-Born first round NBA pick in Karim Lopez.

Duke Associate Head Coach Chris Carrawell is scheduled to join the J&J Show on Wednesday (6/24) at 11:25 a.m. to discuss Duke's Cam Boozer and his selection by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Wednesday morning 92.9 FM ESPN's Unsportsmanlike Morning Show weighed in on the #3 pick.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE GRIZZLIES ON #3 PICK CAMERON BOOZER

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team selected Duke forward Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Boozer (6-8 ¼, 253) comes to Memphis following a historic year at Duke in which he became the fifth freshman in NCAA history to sweep men’s basketball’s highest individual honors as the consensus National Player of the Year. The 18-year-old was named the Associated Press National Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, NABC National Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year and Sporting News Player of the Year and was the recipient of the John R. Wooden Award.

In addition to his national player of the year accolades, Boozer secured the Wayman Tisdale Award (USBWA National Freshman of the Year), the Kyle Macy Award and the CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year Award. He joined Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012), Zion Williamson (2019) and Cooper Flagg (2025) as the only players to earn consensus National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.

During his lone season at Duke, Boozer started all 38 games and averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.5 minutes while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range, becoming the first freshman or sophomore to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in a season since Larry Bird (1976-77).

Boozer, whose 22 double-doubles tied the national lead, was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-American after leading the Blue Devils to a 35-win season and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. He also set Duke freshman records for rebounds (389) and free throws made (221).

A native of Miami and the son of two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, Boozer guided Christopher Columbus High School to consecutive state championships in 2024 and 2025 and won gold medals as the MVP of the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup with Team USA.Listen to every Grizzlies game this season live on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Sports Station.

PRESS RELEASE ON KARIM LOPEZ FROM THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

GRIZZLIES ACQUIRE 2026 DRAFT RIGHTS TO KARIM LOPEZ

AND FIVE FUTURE SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICKS

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team acquired the 2026 draft rights to forward Karim Lopez (No. 21 overall) and three future second round draft picks from the Detroit Pistons for the 2026 draft rights to guard Ebuka Okorie (No. 17 overall). In a preceding trade, the Grizzlies acquired the draft rights to Okorie and two future second round draft picks from the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2026 draft rights to guard Bennett Stirtz (No. 16 overall).

Lopez (6-8 ¼, 222) played the previous two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers as part of the Australian NBL’s Next Stars program and averaged 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in 24.4 minutes. The 19-year-old scored 358 points in 30 games for the Breakers last season, the most ever by a draft-eligible player in the history of the NBL Next Stars program, surpassing high marks previously held by LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr.

During the 2024-25 season, Lopez became the youngest player in NBL history to record a double-double by scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as a 17-year-old against Sydney on Oct. 27, 2024.

Lopez, who is the first Mexico native to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, began his professional career in Spain with Joventut Badalona during the 2023-24 season and made his Mexican Senior National Team debut at the age of 17.