Cameron Boozer wasted little time reminding basketball fans why he is considered one of the most exciting young prospects in the NBA.
After coming within one game of winning the 2026 NBA Summer League championship with the Memphis Grizzlies, Boozer returned to action Monday night for his first preseason appearance. Facing the Atlanta Hawks, the former Duke standout immediately made an impact by filling up the stat sheet and helping Memphis secure a 132-123 victory.
Boozer finished the contest with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 18 minutes. Perhaps just as encouraging was his ball security, as he committed only one turnover while contributing in several areas of the game.
It was the type of performance that showcased why Boozer’s value extends well beyond scoring.
Rather than forcing his offense, Boozer allowed the game to come to him. He contributed on the glass, created opportunities for teammates and made plays defensively, demonstrating the versatility that has quickly become one of the defining characteristics of his game.
Memphis also received a major offensive boost during the second quarter, exploding for 49 points and building enough momentum to pull away from Atlanta. The Grizzlies eventually finished with 132 points, opening their preseason schedule with an impressive victory.
For Boozer, however, the final score was only part of the story.
The preseason represents an important opportunity for young players to adjust to the pace, physicality and expectations of NBA basketball. Boozer’s ability to make an impact without dominating the ball was particularly notable. His four assists showed his willingness to facilitate, while his five rebounds and two steals highlighted his activity away from the offensive end.
The performance also adds to the growing excitement surrounding Boozer’s rookie campaign.
He is currently viewed as the betting favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an indication of the expectations surrounding the young forward. While preseason games do not determine individual awards, performances like Monday’s can strengthen the belief that Boozer has the skill set to make an immediate impact at the professional level.
His path to the NBA has already generated considerable attention. Boozer entered the league following an impressive college career at Duke, where he developed into one of the country’s most highly regarded young players. Now, the challenge is translating that success to the professional game.
Monday provided an encouraging first step.
Boozer’s preseason debut also carries an interesting connection to Duke history. If he were to win Rookie of the Year, he and former Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg would become part of a rare back-to-back achievement involving collegiate teammates.
Flagg captured the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award, and Boozer is now entering the 2026-27 season as one of the leading candidates to follow him.
The potential accomplishment would put the former Duke stars in elite company.
The last collegiate duo to win consecutive Rookie of the Year awards came from North Carolina, with Walter Davis taking the honor for the 1977-78 season before Phil Ford followed in 1978-79. If Boozer wins the award this season, Duke would have its own back-to-back Rookie of the Year storyline.
There is still a long way to go before that possibility becomes reality, but Boozer’s first preseason performance offered plenty of reasons for optimism.
The Memphis forward will have three more preseason opportunities to continue adapting to the NBA and building chemistry with his new teammates. Those games will give him valuable experience before the regular season begins and provide another chance to demonstrate the wide range of skills that made him such a highly anticipated prospect.
Boozer was not the only former Duke player to make his preseason debut Monday.
His college teammate Isaiah Evans also saw his first NBA preseason action, suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Evans scored two points in eight minutes as he begins his own transition from college basketball to the professional level.
For Duke fans, seeing Boozer and Evans begin their NBA journeys is another reminder of the program’s continued influence at the highest level of basketball.
Boozer, though, appears ready for the spotlight.
With 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in limited minutes, he produced the kind of balanced performance that can excite a franchise and its fan base. More importantly, he showed that he can affect a game in multiple ways without needing a huge scoring night.
That versatility could ultimately become one of his greatest strengths.
As Memphis continues its preseason schedule, all eyes will remain on Boozer. The Rookie of the Year favorite has already made an encouraging first impression, and Monday’s performance suggests that the former Duke star is prepared to embrace the challenge of his first NBA season.
