(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Over the past few months, the Memphis Grizzlies franchise has gone through a lot of growing pains, with the team getting bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers and learning that superstar Ja Morant will be suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA season.
Although it has been nothing but negativity and disappointment for the Grizzlies recently, one positive note is the team will have guard Desmond Bane in the mix for the foreseeable future.
The Grizzlies agreed to a lucrative contract extension with Bane, which became official on Thursday and made a little history linked to Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, according to Spotrac.
Per his 5 year, $205M+ agreement with the #Grizzlies, Desmond Bane becomes the 1st player to secure a maximum rookie contract extension out of the #30 draft slot since Jimmy Butler did so with the #Bulls back in 2015.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) July 5, 2023
Even though all anyone can talk about concerning the Grizzlies is the ongoing off-the-court drama with Morant, Bane has been a success story for Memphis as he has far exceeded expectations since being drafted out of TCU with the No. 30 overall pick back in 2020.
With Morant stuck watching games in street clothes for the first 25 games of the regular season, Bane will have to shoulder the load for the up-and-coming Grizzlies and will immediately be put to the test as to whether he’s worth this massive contract extension.
Bane has improved drastically from season to season in Memphis and has quickly become arguably the second or third-best player on the team, with Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. being the only two ahead of him.
Last season, Bane averaged a career-high 21.5 points per game, shooting 47.9% from the floor and 40.8% from beyond the arc.
The post Desmond Bane Joined Jimmy Butler In Unique History With His New Contract appeared first on The Cold Wire.