Olivier-Maxence Prosper has taken advantage of the opportunities that arose this season as the Memphis Grizzlies endured one injury after another.
As a result, the Grizzlies rewarded the 6-foot-7 forward with a standard contract earlier this week after he began the season on a two-way deal that was nearing its 50-game expiration. Prosper signed a multi-year deal and will be in the lineup when the Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday night.
“I’m definitely grateful,” said Prosper, who is in his third season. “You work towards things like this. It’s just belief in myself and trust that everything was going to work out, staying true to the process, staying true to my work.”
Prosper is averaging a career-high 7.8 points per game and shooting 54.1% from the floor. He is shooting 38.9% from long range.
“Ever since he showed up here, his work ethic has been tremendous,” Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “He’s shown a lot of improvement on both sides, both offense and defense. He’s improved some technical skills and always has been there when we need him. Very reliable player. Played him at different spots, and very happy we have him for the rest of the season.”
He was selected as the No. 24 pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft and spent two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Waived by the Mavericks in August, he signed with the Grizzlies before the start of this season. He said the organization is a good fit.
“For me personally, just my style of play, my ability to come in and impact the game with my energy and my effort (have fit),” Prosper said.
“Then I think just this locker room, just the guys we got,” he continued. “I feel like the type of person I am, my work ethic, how I approach things and everything, it fits with everybody here. We all, I feel, are part of the same cloth. We’re all a young core that wants to be great and wants to get better.”
Prosper has been particularly impactful since the All-Star break. In the eight games since, Prosper is averaging 13 points and 4.5 rebounds while displaying versatility. He has played from small forward to center.
“I want to be somewhere where I’m wanted, somewhere where I feel like they value me, and it’s great to see that here,” Prosper said. “This is a great place, and I feel like it could be a great home for me. I love this challenge.”
The Clippers will have a challenge of their own. They must recover from a heartbreaking 116-112 loss to San Antonio Friday in which they squandered a 25-point third-quarter lead.
The Spurs outscored the Clippers 66-37 over the final 21:20 of the game. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue credited Spurs coach Mitch Johnson for implementing a zone defense for their comeback from a 66-46 halftime deficit. That the Spurs shot 59.6% in the half compared to 41.5% for the Clippers didn’t hurt, either.
“It wasn’t a tradtional zone. It was kind of tricky. We didn’t execute against the zone, and that’s what allowed them to get back in the game,” Lue said.
“Mitch did a great job of just going zone. I don’t think they could have stopped us offensively and so he went zone to make us stagnant, and that’s what happened.”
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 30 points and nine rebounds. Brook Lopez added 26 points and six rebounds.
Los Angeles will be without rookie Yanic Niederhauser, who will miss the remainder of the year because of a Lisfranc injury on his right foot that requires surgery.
Darius Garland made his debut with the Clippers on Monday against the Golden State Warriors and played Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers, both wins. He scored 12 points in each of those games, but sat out against the Spurs because of his lingering toe injury and is not expected to play against Memphis.
