McLemore finds fresh start in Memphis

By Matt Tait     Jul 2, 2017

Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo
Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore, looks to pass against Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. The Jazz won 112-82.

One day after learning about his own two-year contract with Memphis, former Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr., learned Sunday that he will have Jayhawk company.

Former KU guard Ben McLemore, once the No. 7 overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2013 NBA Draft, has agreed to a two-year deal with Memphis, which, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, is worth a total of $10.7 million.

McLemore became an unrestricted free agent earlier this summer when the Kings did not extend a qualifying offer his way. That freed him up to sign with any team he wanted and he quickly found a new home with the Grizzlies.

In town in early June to participate in the annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, McLemore told the Journal-World then that he was determined to work harder than ever this offseason to get his NBA career on track.

With NBA averages of 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.5 minutes per game, McLemore has spent his first few professional seasons floating on the fringe between NBA starter and role player.

His best single-season numbers to date came in his second season, when he started all 82 games and averaged 12.1 points and 32.6 minutes per game for the Kings that year. He has started 216 of the 283 games he has appeared in, but has yet to consistently make that undeniable statement that he’s on his way to becoming a star.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.