Darrell Arthur quietly having a solid season for Memphis

By Matt Tait     Jan 27, 2009

So here’s this week’s question. It’s pretty simple, really. Has anyone noticed what an impact former Kansas University forward Darrell Arthur has made on the NBA during the first 41 games of his rookie season? Through half a season, Arthur is averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in just 20 minutes a game for Memphis. Perhaps even more amazing, KU’s leading scorer in last April’s national championship game is averaging just 2.7 fouls per game and has fouled out of just one contest. Those numbers don’t exactly pop off of your screen and scream legend-in-the-making, but a closer look shows just how impressive Arthur has been so far. I wonder how many broadcasters throughout the league have referred to him as Dare-ull Arthur, as in Darrell Strawberry. He’s reached double digits in scoring 10 times this season, with a career-high of 16 points in a loss to Utah in November. He has reached double digits in rebounds in six games and has snagged six or more boards in 10 games, including a career high of 15 in the season opener against Houston. His season high for minutes played was 34 in a loss to Toronto. Average numbers to be sure, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Arthur so far this season it’s that him slipping to the bottom of the first round in last June’s NBA Draft was a joke. Arthur has started 33 games for the Grizzlies and has more than showed that he belongs on the floor with the big boys. Here’s a look. (Be advised, some of the lyrics in the music that accompanies the video may be offensive.)His best game of the young season came on Nov. 7, when he helped lead the Grizz past Golden State and scored 13 points, snagged 12 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. All of that in just 26 minutes. Numbers like these should earn Arthur a spot in the Rookie Game at the NBA’s All-Star Weekend Feb. 13-15 in Phoenix. They also should be the foundation for a long and memorable NBA career. I wonder, though. Because the man they called “Shady” was in Lawrence for just two seasons and because he had a handful of off-the-court issues, do KU fans feel the same kind of pride for Arthur that they do for other former Jayhawks who have gone on to NBA success?

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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.