Grizzlies rookies hope rust shakes off
March 11 was the last time Desmond Bane played in a basketball game. For Xavier Tillman Sr., it was March 8.
Both Grizzlies rookies saw their college careers end abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine months later, they, along with Killian Tillie and Sean Mcdermott, will get to play again.
The NBA preseason opener against the Timberwolves on Saturday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Southeast) will be more about them knocking off the rust as much as adjusting to a new team. But after one week of training camp, Bane is ready to go.
“I’m looking forward to learning and growing,” Bane said, “I haven’t played an official basketball game in a long time so just being able to get out there and compete against another opponent is
exciting.”
Preseason is usually for coaches to tinker with lineups and veterans to try something new. But without a summer league, the games are part of an accelerated learning curve for rookies.
Bane already has had good reviews on his shooting from both Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks. Tillman’s motto was be a sponge and learn on the go.
He adjusted to the Grizzlies’ up-tempo practice because Michigan State ran a similar transition offense. The main difference, of course, is NBA speed is a different gear than college.
“It’s definitely a lot faster in the fact that even the big guys are fast compared to in college,” Tillman said. “But as far as being fast-paced, it’s something I’m used to.”
For the veterans, Saturday will be four months since they last played a game. It’s the same rest period they had between last season’s suspension and the start of the bubble in Orlando.
As for the rookies? They’ll be eager to taste their first NBA action while hoping they can catch their breath after the longest layoff for any rookie class.