Who is Jerami Grant? Evaluating his career trajectory with Portland Trail Blazers so far in the NBA
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant is the nephew of four-time NBA champion Horace Grant. The 28-year-old forward was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round in 2014. Grant won the gold medal with the U.S. national team in the 2020 Olympics.
Grant has been on fire for the Blazers this season. As the team's third option, the 6-foot-8 forward erupted during games when the team needed scoring punch.
In a game against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 4, the Blazers were without Damian Lillard. However, Grant canned a buzzer-beater to win the game 108-106 and dropped 30 points. Grant has shown that he fits well in Chauncey Billups' system, especially on defense.
Jerami Grant last 3 games:
37 PTS | 6 REB | 59.1 FG%
27 PTS | 8 REB | 50.0 FG%
23 PTS | 6 REB | 60.0 FG%
Leading scorer on the top team in the West. https://t.co/ejtXY7h4M7
In an interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania, Grant discussed his journey to being one of Portland's main guys.
"I didn’t know how to feel about it for the first night, but once I settled down, I realized this is a better situation for me," Grant said. "I think it was a great decision on my part for my career, to be able to grow and experience being in that position knowing where I'm at, knowing where I could be."
Portland’s Jerami Grant sits down with @Stadium: “I didn’t know how to feel about (Blazers) for the first night, but once I settled down, I realized this is a better situation for me.” Also: Damian Lillard’s recruitment, lessons as No. 1 option in Detroit, his Denver exit, more. https://t.co/6yYqyTwWHv
This season, Grant is averaging 21.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He's also shooting well, making 50.6%, including 49.3% from 3-point. With his production for the Blazers (10-4), the team has become a real threat in the Western Conference. Portland is on top of the West as it hosts the Brooklyn Nets (6-9) on Thursday night.
Also read: “I didn’t know how to feel about (Blazers) for the first night” – Jerami Grant discusses his companionship with Damian Lillard & his roller-coaster journey in NBA
The NBA journey of Jerami Grant
When Jerami Grant started his career as a Philadelphia 76er in 2014, it took time for the second-round pick out of Syracuse to adjust to the league. In Philly, he averaged almost 24.2 minutes a game as a reserve player. After two seasons, Grant was traded to the OKC Thunder two games into the 2016-17 season.
The defensive-minded forward spent three seasons with the Thunder, but that's where he started improving on his game. In his last season in Oklahoma City, Grant averaged 13.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.0 apg while shooting 49.7%, including 39.2% from 3-point range.
During the 2019 offseason, Grant saw himself as a member of the Denver Nuggets after getting traded. The lengthy forward only spent one season with the team before moving on to the next chapter of his career.
He wasn't re-signed by the Nuggets and instead was given a three-year, $60 million deal by the Detroit Pistons. In Detroit, he blossomed into the main guy for the team. Grant's second year with the Pistons has been his best so far, averaging 22.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.8 apg.
This summer, Jerami Grant was traded to the Trail Blazers and has been balling out since the start of the season.
Also read: “Dame gets hurt last year & they hit a rut” – JJ Redick asserts Trail Blazers signing Jerami Grant makes them a conference finals contender