Last year's Rookie of the Year finalist has taken his game to the next level for a Grizzlies team that desperately needed it. Jaylen Wells began the season [in a major slump](https://bealestreetbears.com/grizzlies-are-learning-a-harsh-jaylen-wells-lesson-they-should-ve-known-all-along), but his teammates kept encouraging him to continue attempting shots, and it has paid off in his last nine games.
Jaylen Wells is averaging 18.1 points on 58.6% shooting from the field and 52.3% from three in those last nine games, and is the team’s leading scorer during that span. His nine-game streak scoring in double figures is a career-high, as five games were his longest streak during his rookie season last year.
The 2024 second-round pick is also the only Grizzlies player to appear in and start every game this season, making his 100th career start against the Clippers on Monday night. Reaching that number, after being projected to be a back-end rotation player going into his rookie season, confirms what the Grizzlies [already know about Wells](https://bealestreetbears.com/grizzlies-are-learning-a-harsh-jaylen-wells-lesson-they-should-ve-known-all-along).
Jaylen Wells completes Memphis' present and future starting wing tandem
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
After being selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, Memphis signed Jaylen Wells to a standard contract. With the wing position being a hot commodity in the NBA, this meant that the team had plans on easing him into the lineup while he worked through common rookie struggles.
However, injuries paved the way for Jaylen Wells to not only play key rotation minutes early but also become a starter five games into his NBA career. His performance throughout his rookie season eventually led to an NBA All-Rookie first team nod and a third-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
You could also make the case that Wells made guys like Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane expendable due to his perfect complementary 3-and-D role next to Ja Morant in the backcourt. This season has seen him add additional value as an off-the-dribble scorer in the mid-range, which has been on full display in his last nine games.
Also, he can thank his teammates for their belief in him to keep shooting his way out of the early-season slump, as most of the team was in a similar slump from three-point range. If the Grizzlies can sustain any sort of run with health on their side, their regular starting lineup of Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey can pose a threat in the Western Conference.