Memphis Grizzlies: 2017-18 team awards
By Tony East
Most Disappointing Player: Ben McLemore
This award had far too many candidates. Mike Conley Jr. couldn’t stay healthy, which is in its own way disappointing. Marc Gasol played below expectations. Chandler Parsons did both. Guys like Wayne Selden and Jarrell Martin didn’t take large enough steps forward.
But Ben McLemore takes the cake. The thought process for the McLemore signing made some sense for Memphis; bring in a guy who shot 36.5 percent from deep over the last three years and is young. He could improve, and he could already be better than he has shown since he played in the talent black hole that is Sacramento. There was at least expectation for not terrible play for the Kansas product.
Instead, McLemore was terrible. He shot a career-low percentage from deep, supposedly the hallmark of his game. He took a step back in turnover rate. He had his worst season finishing at the rim. Outside of rebounding, McLemore was as bad or worse at every important area of basketball as he was in a Kings uniform.
The Grizzlies were really hoping he could be a part of their future. They were wrong. McLemore was a huge disappointment.