July 5, 2026, 12:01 p.m. CT

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 4: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies rushes the ball up the court during the first of of their 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 4, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. ( Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)

Bringing the ball up, Cameron Boozer drove left. A few dribbles later, he pulled up for the baseline fadeaway jumper. The mid-range bucket swished through. The 18-year-old showed why he’s not your older brother’s typical NBA power forward. The game has evolved.

The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their 2026 Summer League with an 111-74 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Two lottery picks headlined the exhibition. And no offense to Aday Mara, but Boozer showed why he went No. 3 in the 2026 NBA draft.

Boozer finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, four rebounds and four assists. To get things started, he slashed at the dunker’s spot and went up for a jam despite Mara’s 7-foot-3 frame contesting him. That type of blue-collar bucket is what the Grizzlies are latching onto.

Moving on from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane over the last year, the Grizzlies are starting over. They’re in the infancy stages of a rebuild. Blessed with lottery luck, Boozer hopes to be Memphis’ first foundational piece of its new era.

Here’s what the Thunder had to say about Boozer. They were the first team to face him in an NBA setting:

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“Really good test for us. I thought they played really well. Credit them. They were really physical. Just for us, our guys get to feel that and go through that and experience it. Now, they have an opportunity to grow from it. It’s just really the key of Summer League is the learning opportunities and the different positions you’re put in. You’re forced to respond and learn from it.”

Aday Mara

“He’s a great player. He got me on the first play of the game. We’ve just talked about it in the locker room. We saw each other in the hallway. He’s a good player. Good person. During the draft process, I had the chance to talk to him. He’s a great guy. I’m happy for him and think he’s going to be great next year.”

Brooks Barnhizer

“It’s big time. One thing about the NBA that’s really cool is every night, you gotta get used to that. Every night, the opponents have really high picks and really good players. If a guy like me wants to play in the NBA for a really long time, that’s gotta be a matchup you have to really get excited about. It was cool to play against Boozer.”