NBA
CC
#23

Cedric Coward

Guard · Memphis Grizzlies · 6'5", 205 lb · Born Sep 11, 2003 · Fresno, California · Drafted 11th overall, 2025
No. 11 pick (2025)D-III to lottery3-and-D wingLong wing
NBAMemphis GrizzliesGuards
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In short

Cedric Coward is a 6-foot-5 wing with a 7-foot-2 wingspan for the Memphis Grizzlies, drafted 11th in 2025 (via Portland) after a remarkable rise from Division III to the lottery. A two-way wing with catch-and-shoot ability, he is the grandson of a 1976 Olympic gold medalist, and flashed his upside early with a 27-point, 6-for-6 three-point game as a rookie.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceWed, Nov 11
@Los Angeles LakersAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
13.6
range 10.9–16.3
Line 13.5
51%
to go over
Team win
36%
110–114
Poi 13.6 Lean overReb 5.9 Lean underAss 2.8 Lean underPRA 22.3 Lean under
Likely on himMarcus Smart· 86 Perimeter DStrong defender
10+ pts88%15+ pts32%

Model lines Coward at 13.6 pts (range 10.9–16.3) vs a 13.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (51%).

Model favors Los Angeles Lakers (64%), projected 110–114, ~224 total at 96.5 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Coward
The Coward Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A long, two-way wing with a remarkable rise — shooting and length for the Grizzlies.

Coward rose from Division III Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State before being drafted 11th in 2025.

🏫 Washington State · 11th, 2025D-III to lottery

Drafted by Portland and traded to Memphis, he's the grandson of an Olympic gold medalist.

Traded to MEMOlympic bloodline

He flashed his upside with a 27-point, 6-for-6 three-point game as a rookie.

27 · 6/6 threesGrizzlies rookie record

A long, two-way wing, his tools give him 3-and-D upside.

7'2" wingspanHigh upside
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
13.6
2025-26
RPG
5.9
per game
APG
2.8
per game
FG%
.471
.338 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A long, two-way wing with a remarkable rise — shooting and length for the Grizzlies.

Cedric Coward was born in Fresno, California and took one of the most unusual paths in recent draft history — from Division III Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State — before being drafted 11th in 2025 and traded to Memphis. He is the grandson of 1976 Olympic gold medalist Maxie Parks.

A 6-foot-5 wing with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a strong shooting stroke, his high-major and pro sample is still small after a shoulder injury cut his Washington State season short. But early NBA flashes — including a 27-point, 6-for-6 three-point game — have drawn attention to his 3-and-D upside.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Coward's story is one-of-one — an athlete from a track-and-field family (his grandfather Maxie Parks won Olympic gold in the 4x400 relay) who began at Division III Willamette on a non-athletic scholarship and climbed all the way to the NBA lottery, a path almost unheard of. His length, athleticism, and shooting made scouts look past his unconventional route.

His on-court identity is long, two-way wing play — a 6-foot-5 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, catch-and-shoot shooting (a 6-for-6 three-point NBA game), and secondary playmaking, projecting a 3-and-D profile with scoring flashes. His limited high-level sample and a prior shoulder injury are the caveats, but his tools and early shooting give him genuine upside.

PERSONALITY

The person

A long, two-way wing — catch-and-shoot shooting, length, and athletic upside.

Long wingA 6-foot-5 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
ShooterFlashed a 6-for-6 three-point NBA game early.
One-of-one riseClimbed from Division III to the lottery.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Rookie Two-Way Wing
Temperament
Spark
Leadership
58/100
Scoring63
Playmaking55
Rebounding48
Perimeter D64
Rim protection25
Spacing60
Athleticism70
Clutch64
an efficient rookie two-way wing
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Length and shooting upside

Coward's value is two-way wing tools — a 6-foot-5 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, catch-and-shoot shooting (a 6-for-6 three-point NBA game), and secondary playmaking, projecting a 3-and-D profile with scoring flashes. Those tools and early shooting give Memphis a high-upside young wing despite his unconventional path.

A small but promising sample

The caveats are his limited high-major and pro sample — a shoulder injury cut his Washington State season to six games — and level-of-competition questions from his Division III start. But his length, athleticism, and shooting stroke are real, and his early NBA flashes support optimism; he is one of the more intriguing high-upside young wings for the Grizzlies.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-266225.813.65.92.8.471.338

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

PathRose from Division III Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State to the lottery
2025Drafted 11th overall (by Portland); traded to Memphis
Debut season27 points on 6-for-6 from three — a Grizzlies rookie milestone

Hardware

No. 11
Draft pick (2025)
1×
First-team All-Big Sky (2024)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A long, high-upside two-way wing — shooting and length for the Grizzlies.

Coward is a high-upside, long two-way wing whose unusual Division-III-to-lottery ascent makes him one of the more intriguing young players. His small pro sample and a prior shoulder injury are the main caveats, but his length, athleticism, and early shooting flashes support real optimism.

LengthElite
ShootingPromising
Two-way toolsPromising
Experience / healthDeveloping

Contract

Draft
No. 11, 2025 rookie
Role
3-and-D wing upside
Age
22 rising
Bottom line

A long, two-way wing with a remarkable Division-III-to-lottery rise, elite length, and early shooting flashes — a high-upside young piece for Memphis, with sample size the caveat.

FAQ

Quick answers

What is notable about Cedric Coward's path to the NBA?

He rose from Division III Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State before being drafted 11th overall in 2025 — a nearly unheard-of ascent.

What kind of player is Cedric Coward?

A 6-foot-5 two-way wing with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and catch-and-shoot ability, projecting a 3-and-D profile with scoring upside.

How did Cedric Coward join the Grizzlies?

Portland drafted him 11th in 2025 and traded him to Memphis.