Kennedy Chandler reveals what it means to play for hometown NBA franchise

Kennedy Chandler is a Tennessee man through and through. Born in Memphis, Chandler went on to star for the Tennessee Volunteers last season before being selected by the San Antonio Spurs No. 38 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, where he was traded to his hometown Grizzlies on draft night.

“It means a lot for me to be back home,” Chandler said about returning to Memphis. “It’s been a long journey for me to be able to play in front of my friends and family. I’ve been away from home for probably over two years now, so for me to wear Memphis across my chest and be able to play for this organization means a lot.”

Over 34 games as a freshman under Rick Barnes last season, Chandler started every game while averaging 13.9 points and 4.7 assists on his way to the All-SEC team and subsequent SEC Tournament MVP award. At 6-foot tall, he also averaged 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from the 3-point line.

During the offseason and breaks, Chandler has regularly worked out with Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant – someone who has voiced his support for the young prospect on multiple occasions via social media as well.

“I think the backcourt with me and Ja would be nice, fun to play him with him,” Chandler said. “I’m excited to be able to play alongside him and learn from him as well. He’s been here for three years and I want to learn a lot. What he learned throughout his rookie year, all the years that he’s played here. I’m excited to play alongside him.”

Chandler brings a long history of pedigree to Memphis, coming to Tennessee as the No. 13 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 3 point guard in the 2021 class. He also ranked No. 1 in the state of Kansas after transferring to Sunrise Academy. If he would have stayed in his home state, he would have ranked No. 1 in the state of Tennessee as well.

In Chandler’s favor, the Grizzlies have a record of hitting on late-first and early second-round draft picks. In fact, they drafted three of their top five scorers, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, and Dillon Brooks, between the 21 and 45 picks.

The hometown rookie will certainly want to emulate the same success those three have seen during their Memphis run. With Morant leading the charge, Chandler can slide into role as a backup point guard, filling in the gaps when Morant needs a break or when the Grizzlies want to play small. Regardless, there’s no shortage of options for the Grizzlies to slot him in during his rookie campaign.