Last weekend I went to Las Vegas to catch a glimpse of 2022’s NBA Summer League. On Saturday I watched basketball for six hours, and one big guy stood out to me- the Memphis Grizzlies’ Kenny Lofton Jr.
Written by: Riya Kalra
24 July, 2022
Lofton is a sturdy guy with the build of a linebacker, the forward stands at 6’7 weighing a solid 275 lbs. Like a bull, Lofton has the ability to pressure his opponents using his mass, limiting their accessibility to the basket. Lofton can also pass the ball efficiently to his teammates while prodding the defender off, allowing his teammate to drive straight to the rim. Lofton himself can create a powerful drive to the basket, leaning in on his opponents and laying the ball up and in. In summer league, Lofton averaged a strong 15.3 PPG, 2 APG, and 4.6 RPG- again, Lofton’s mass allows him to box out other opponents giving him a rebound attempt. Not only is Lofton strong on the offensive end, but he has the ability to provide strong defense using his body weight. On the other end, Lofton, like Chet Holmgren, was able to contest his opponents shots, whether it was by giving a nasty rejection by the rim or stealing the ball.
During the Salt Lake City Summer League, Lofton gave the #2 first round pick, Chet Holmgren, a taste of what the NBA would feel like. Lofton constantly was on Holmgren, overpowering the lanky center with his muscle. Holmgren gave credit to Lofton after their face off, acknowledging that Lofton gave him a real sense of what playing against him is like. But Lofton didn’t stop in Utah. At Vegas, when facing off against the San Antonio Spurs, Lofton completely dominated with 27 points, 3 assists, and 12 rebounds. Lofton really proved himself this game, shooting triples from all around the court. The game went down to the wire, with the Spurs leading the Grizzlies 89-87 with 7 seconds left. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies turned over the ball and the Spurs ended up securing a 90-87 victory against Memphis, but Lofton’s efforts were not wasted, in this game he proved himself and gave the media a perspective of what he is really capable of.
What does the future hold for Lofton?
I can already see a bright future for Lofton and the Memphis Grizzlies. With a healthy Ja Morant AND Kenny Lofton, Memphis should already see themselves in the playoffs bracket next season. And for Kenny Lofton personally, he may qualify for Rookie of the Year based on what we’ve seen in summer league. Let’s see how Lofton faces off against more rookies and players when the season starts, then there will be a standing point to judge by. Overall, Kenny Lofton Jr. is a powerful player with lots of underlying potential, and if he continues to play and improve, he may have a real shot of being a top pick for Rookie of the Year.
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