Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward walked to the mound at AutoZone Park, preparing to throw out the first pitch at the Memphis Redbirds game on Sept. 20. He didn’t set high expectations for himself. His main goal was to not let the ball bounce to the plate.

With the crowd clapping along, Coward stood on top of the mound and uncorked a pitch that landed about chest-high across home plate.

Coward approved.

“My first pitch was good,” he said. “I aimed for the plate. I just didn’t want it to bounce. I wanted it to get there. I think it got there with a little bit of velocity.”

Coward and fellow rookie Javon Small were at the Redbirds’ game against the St. Paul Saints for Grizzlies Day. The duo signed autographs and engaged with the crowd.

Cedric Coward injury update

As evident by the first pitch, Coward’s shoulder appears to be just fine. He confirmed as much, stating that he has been “100% cleared” for full basketball activity since August.

“I feel good,” he said. “The workouts we’re doing now, I feel great in them.”

Coward suffered a partially torn rotator cuff during the 2024-25 season at Washington State. The injury required surgery and ended his season after six games.

When he was drafted 11th overall in June, Coward stated that he felt fine. However, the team announced that he wasn’t 100% cleared for full basketball activity just yet. As a result, Coward didn’t play during summer league.

He is now “super excited” for the preseason. Memphis will begin Oct. 6 against the Detroit Pistons, with training camp practices before that. Coward isn’t expected to have any restrictions.

“That’s the best thing ever,” he said. “I haven’t played live competition since November . . . For me, I do it every day now that I can. I don’t have to hold anything back. I don’t got people telling me to take a break and stuff. It’s like letting the wolves out. That’s what it is.”

Making Memphis home

Coward has been staying in Memphis for roughly three months. In that time, he already has been stopped on his runs to Walmart and Costco a few times, but he doesn’t mind.

“It’s great to get the notoriety, and at the same time, the love,” he said.

Coward may be from California, but he says he has noticed parts of Memphis that remind him of home. In particular, he pointed out how people in the Grizzlies organization and across the city have helped him understand what southern hospitality really means.

“For me, I’m a big family guy, and it kind of feels like that in a way,” Coward said.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.