WSU NFL athletes have been good this year, but WSU NBA players have taken the cake just five days into the season. Cedric Coward went No. 11 to the Memphis Grizzlies. Coward played just six games for WSU in the 2024-25 season, averaging 17.7 points, seven rebounds and nearly four assists. He has dominated thus far in the NBA. One of WSU’s best athletes ever, Klay Thompson, has been shooting well for the Mavericks as always.
Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies) – He has been phenomenal with the Grizzlies making it bittersweet for WSU fans, as he most likely would have led the Cougs deep into the NCAA tournament if he had not been injured. To start his career, Coward has played great in three games. In game one, he had 14 points, three rebounds and one assist on 100% shooting. To follow up in game two, he scored 16 points, two rebounds and two assists on 5-of-9 shooting. In his latest showing, he was at his best, scoring 27 points, six rebounds and four assists on 9-of-13 shooting and 6-of-6 from behind the arc. If Coward can continue to play at an elite level for the Grizzlies, the trio of Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells and Coward could make for a dangerous team.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Cedric Coward wears the basketball on his shoulders after dunking the ball, Nov. 9, in Pullman, Wash.
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies) – While the Kansas City Chiefs have a tandem of Cougs with Jaylen Watson and Jaden Hicks; the Grizzlies have their own with Wells and Coward. After suffering a broken wrist in his rookie season and missing out on Rookie of the Year, Wells has recovered well and entered this season fully healthy. In game one, Wells had 14 points, three rebounds and four assists on 4-of-8 shooting. In game two, Wells had nine points, four rebounds and one assist on 3-of-9 shooting. He followed with his worst game, five points on 2-of-10 shooting with three rebounds. The Grizzlies are expecting a lot out of Wells, who averaged 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in his shortened rookie season.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Jaylen Wells hangs in the air as he shoots the ball with just one hand, Jan. 24, in Pullman, Wash.
Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks) – The Wazzu great has been off to a tough start this year, with no one to blame but Nico Harrison, general manager of the Mavericks. With Kyrie Irving out until January with a torn ACL and backup guard D’Angelo Russell, who is not a starter, they have made No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, a forward, their point guard. Thompson’s game is catch-and-shoot, coming off screens and pin downs. With no true point guard, that limits his abilities and makes him struggle to get rhythm shots. In game one, Thompson had 10 points with two rebounds and one assist on 4-of-13 shooting. Game two got no better, with eight points and four rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting. In his most recent outing against the Raptors, Thompson was at his best, with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists on 4-of-7 shooting. Klay will need to find a way to get his shots off and hit them until Kyrie is back and the Mavericks can get back to normalcy.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Klay Thompson played for WSU from 2008-2011 and was the 11th pick in the NBA Draft selected by the Golden State Warriors. Thompson’s jersey will soon be retired at WSU.
Isaac Jones (Sacramento Kings) – Coming off an impressive rookie season averaging eight points, three rebounds and one assist, there was some buildup of expectations for Jones. Being Domantas Sabonis’s backup, there is limited playing time available, especially when he is healthy. With the signing of guard Russell Westbrook, who is a big rebound stealer, it makes it tough for Jones to have an impact on games. In three games, Jones has only played 15 minutes, with two points, two rebounds and one assist for the season.
EMMA DECASA
Forward Isaac Jones dunks the ball during an NCAA men’s basketball game against Arizona, Jan. 13, 2024, in Pullman, Wash.
Mouhamed Gueye (Atlanta Hawks) – The second most impressive Cougar has been Gueye. Being on the Hawks and playing with a point guard like Trae Young makes it easy to play. Gueye made headlines and sport reels this week with his poster dunk on Chet Holmgren, a play where Gueye got a baseline dunk over the seven-footer and was fouled by Holmgren. In game one, he only played five minutes and did not score, but in game two, he played 30 minutes with 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 5-of-9 shooting. In game three, he picked up where he left off, with 11 points, six rebounds and two assists on 4-of-10 shooting.
COLE QUINN
WSU forward Mouhamed Gueye (35) shoots over UW forward Jackson Grant (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Beasley Coliseum, Feb. 23.
It has been an impressive start for the Palouse products. When players from WSU dominate, it is not what it meant three to five years ago. WSU needs the recognition for the talent they have had shining in the big leagues. It helps with ticket sales for current teams and for potential recruits to come to WSU. While there are only five Cougs in the NBA, four out of five have bright futures ahead, and the one not counted is a four-time champion and future Hall of Famer.