Memphis landed forward Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the Duke standout described the moment as something he’s prepared for his whole life—while the Grizzlies look for a new foundation amid lingering trade talk around Ja
Cameron Boozer looked like he was trying to find the right words before they even reached his mouth. Then he laughed—because the moment was bigger than any sentence he could build.
With the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected the forward as their newest franchise cornerstone. At the event. Boozer stood flanked by his family. and when he talked about what it meant to hear his name called. he kept circling back to the people who were there with him.
“I don’t even know how to describe it honestly, man,” Boozer said. “It’s my moment, but it’s our moment as a family.”
It was a genuine reaction from a player who has been chasing this step for years—and who still sounded like he was letting it sink in that he’s now an NBA player. The moment came in real time, including the confirmation that he was drafted No. 3 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Boozer’s path to Memphis has already been documented in one college season that left a mark. He spent one season at Duke, appearing in 38 games. He averaged 22.5 points and pulled down an ACC-leading 10.2 rebounds per game, adding 4.1 assists per game. His run earned major recognition as well—he was awarded the Wooden Award. named ACC Player of the Year. and selected to the Consensus First-Team All-American.
Now. in Memphis. the Grizzlies believe they’ve brought in a player they can build around—just as the franchise tries to reshape an identity that has been turbulent off the court. Rumors have swirled around the possibility of a Ja Morant trade. Whether Morant ends up staying or being dealt. Boozer’s arrival gives Memphis something it can at least point to as a fresh start: a new franchise foundation at the top of the draft.
Memphis has shown it can compete, too. The team has made the playoffs in four of the last six seasons. but it hasn’t advanced past the first round since the 2021-2022 season. With the roster undergoing so much change already. the need for a new spark has been part of the conversation—one more reason the No. 3 pick carried so much weight on draft night.
Boozer’s enthusiasm is clear. He is eager to join the Grizzlies and forge his own path. even with the understanding that it may take time before he fully feels like the dream is fully real. For a franchise searching for direction—and for a player stepping into a city that comes with expectations and noise—this draft moment is the reset Memphis has been waiting to see.
Memphis Grizzlies Cameron Boozer 2026 NBA Draft No. 3 pick Duke Blue Devils ACC Player of the Year Wooden Award Ja Morant trade rumors