Kennedy Chandler reflects on what happened with Memphis Grizzlies, next stop in NBA journey
Kennedy Chandler's message now is to keep working hard without looking back.
Whether it was when the former Memphis Grizzlies point guard reflected on his first NBA season or when he blazed past defenders in transition at the Shelby County Pro-Am on Tuesday, Chandler's focus is on what's next.
Chandler made his debut appearance at the event and led his team to a 77-75 win. He finished with 21 points on a team that included former Memphis Tiger forward Will Coleman and former SMU guard Will Douglas. They overcame a halftime double-digit deficit to beat a team led by former Houston High and Western Kentucky guard Marlon Hunter.
"I haven't been back in the city since everything that happened (with the Grizzlies), so I just wanted to have fun playing in my city," said Chandler, who was selected in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft after one season at Tennessee. "It wasn't about me showing out, it was just about me having a good time."
It was Chandler's first public appearance at a basketball event in Memphis since he was surprisingly cut by the Grizzlies near the end of last season. Chandler spent most of his rookie season behind Ja Morant and Tyus Jones at point guard, but the situation seemed ideal with Jones a potential trade candidate after the season and the Grizzlies appeared high on Chandler's future.
Things didn't go as planned for Chandler. When Jones would step in for Morant as a starter, the Grizzlies tried Chandler as the backup point guard before turning to Desmond Bane to play that role. When injuries created depth issues in the frontcourt, the Grizzlies waived Chandler to put Kenneth Lofton Jr. on a standard NBA contract.
"I'm on my own with a different team, trying to stay focused on them," said Chandler, who averaged 7.8 minutes per game in 36 contests. "No hard feelings with everything that happened."
Chandler spent the NBA summer league playing with the Brooklyn Nets, which is where he could possibly sign for the 2023-24 season. Even though the Nets have several playmakers and ball handlers, they have one natural point guard on their roster in Dennis Smith Jr.
If Tuesday was any indication, there's still an NBA roster spot for the former five-star recruit. The quickness and burst that made Chandler receive the largest guaranteed salary for an American second-round pick in NBA history at the time ( $4.94 million), quickly stood out. He had multiple high-flying chase-down blocks and finished through contact at the rim.
Before the game, Chandler said he just wanted to break a sweat. But the way he pushed the ball in transition and took off in the air a few times felt like he was trying to break the rim, too.
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Chandler said he may return Thursday night when the next set of games resume at the Orange Mound Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
"I usually don't do this," Chandler said. "I'm more of a system player. For me to do this, I just wanted to have fun putting on for the city."
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Kennedy Chandler reflects on being cut by Memphis Grizzlies, NBA future
