This week, the devastating news that star point guard Ja Morant would miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury was delivered to the Memphis Grizzlies. After Morant returned to the lineup after serving his suspension, the Grizzlies had been performing significantly superior basketball with him on the court. The absence of Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose due to injuries further compromises the depth of the team’s backcourt. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that this was likely a significant determinant in the Grizzlies’ decision to convert Vince Williams Jr.’s contract to a standard agreement.

Vince Williams Jr. was in his second season on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. His usage would have been restricted to a maximum of 50 games had he maintained the two-way contract. With 27 games already under his belt, he had completed just over half of that allocation. After entering the season as an outsider, he has since developed into a crucial member of the Grizzlies’ backcourt.

Over the course of those 27 contests, eight of which he started, Williams averaged just under 22 minutes of playtime per game. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on the strength of 37.5 percent field goal percentage, 35.1 percent three point line percentage, and 83.3 percent free throw line percentage. He has also developed into one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders.


The Grizzlies selected Williams at No. 47 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Williams’ three-year, $7.9 million contract is the largest deal for a player coming off a two-way contract, according to Wojnarowki.