Scotty Pippen Jr. Steps Into the Spotlight in High-Stakes Play-In Showdown
You’ve probably seen his name buzzing around recently, and for good reason—Scotty Pippen Jr. is stepping into a role no one could have fully predicted at the start of the season. Ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies' critical NBA play-in game against the Golden State Warriors, Pippen is making headlines as he’s been promoted to the starting lineup. That’s right, the Grizzlies are handing him the keys to guard none other than Steph Curry. It’s a huge ask, but if there’s any moment for Pippen Jr. to prove he's more than just a role player, this is it.
Now, this shift didn’t just happen out of nowhere. It came on the heels of a tough blow to the Grizzlies roster—Jaylen Wells went down with a fractured wrist, a concussion, and a facial injury that had him leaving the court on a stretcher. That’s not just a hit to the team's rotation; that’s their go-to defender against opposing stars. Wells logged more minutes against No. 1 options than anyone else on the squad. Losing him right before a showdown with Golden State? That’s brutal.
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So enter Scotty Pippen Jr., who’s been quietly building momentum throughout the season. Since Wells went down, Pippen has seen a jump in playing time—logging over 22 minutes per game and scoring in double digits consistently. His defensive energy has been outstanding, leading the team in steals and making a case for being one of the most underrated perimeter defenders in the league. And the numbers back it up—his steal and block rates put him in elite company, even though he’s giving up several inches in height to most of the guys he’s being compared to.
It’s not just about defense, either. Pippen has been efficient offensively, shooting nearly 40% from three and assisting on over 27% of Memphis’ buckets while on the court. To put that in perspective, the only other names hitting those marks this season are Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Darius Garland, and Tyus Jones. That’s elite-level company. And now, with interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo running the show, Pippen’s role has expanded. He’s playing more minutes alongside Ja Morant, a lineup combo that saw limited run earlier in the year.
But here’s the real question: can Pippen Jr. rise to the occasion and help push Memphis through the play-in? He’s already faced Steph Curry this season, and to be honest, the results haven’t been great. Curry’s averaged 1.36 points per possession with Pippen defending him—an elite number that just shows how difficult that task is. But Pippen has fared much better against other elite guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Fred VanVleet. He’s shown he can step up when the matchup is right.
Whether the Grizzlies survive the play-in and move on to the postseason isn’t just on the shoulders of Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. now—it hinges just as much on how much Scotty Pippen Jr. can deliver in this moment. What started as a role-player stepping in has evolved into a potential x-factor story. And if he can rise to the occasion, we might be witnessing the beginning of a breakout that goes well beyond this postseason.
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