Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ty Jerome continued his remarkable start to the season with a 40-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, despite the team suffering its first loss of the year.
Jerome shot 64% from the field, made five of six three-pointers, and hit seven of eight free throws. He engineered a personal 9-0 run in the final minutes of regulation to force overtime.
Through the first two weeks, Jerome is averaging 28.3 points per game on 50/42/88 shooting splits, ranking sixth in the league in scoring. His per-minute production (0.91 points per minute) is fourth among players with at least 100 minutes played.
The 26-year-old's breakout follows a steady progression. After bouncing between the Suns, Thunder, and Warriors, he had a standout 2024-25 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 12.5 points in 19.9 minutes and finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. His per-36-minute average of 22.7 points surpassed stars like Jamal Murray, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jimmy Butler.
The Grizzlies signed Jerome to a three-year, $28 million contract in summer 2025. After missing the first three months of last season with a calf strain, he scored 20 points in 20 minutes in his debut and averaged 0.87 points per minute over six weeks, matching Kawhi Leonard's rate.
Jerome's elite shooting and pick-and-roll scoring have been consistent; he has ranked above the 90th percentile in both pick-and-roll and isolation scoring per Synergy. His current usage rate of 31.3% equals that of Jalen Brunson. While the MVP-level pace may not sustain, his scoring surge is rooted in years of per-minute excellence.
