Saunders Drafted: Expert Analysis
Grizzlies Draft BYU's Richie Saunders 32nd Overall; Chris Herrington Offers Unique Take
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Key Points
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Chris Herrington, a longtime Grizzlies observer who has covered the team since its second season in Memphis, is highlighted here as a distinctive voice in coverage. He is reportedly the only Professional Basketball Writers Association member who is also in a film critics group and who votes in national music critic polls (Rolling Stone and the Village Voice).
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Richie Saunders is described as one of the older prospects in the 2026 draft at about 25 years old, yet among the more NBA-ready players due to his pure shooting stroke and high basketball IQ, with potential to carve out an immediate role for the Grizzlies despite the team’s rebuild.
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In BYU’s final season Saunders posted 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.6 three-pointers per game, shooting 49/38/82 overall, and averaging 1.7 steals per game—numbers that underscore his well-rounded scoring and defensive contributions.
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Saunders is dealing with an ACL injury suffered in February, which could delay his immediate impact in the NBA as he works toward a return.
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Physically, Saunders checks in at 6'5
The Memphis Grizzlies selected BYU guard Richie Saunders with the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 25. KSL Sports reports Saunders was an All-Big 12 standout who averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in his final college season. The catch: he tore his ACL in February and is unlikely to play until January 2027.
At 25 years old, Saunders is older than most rookies — a result of a two-year LDS mission before joining BYU. But Vanquish The Foe notes that age comes with polish. Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman called him "a Grizzlies-style player" who "defends three positions and never takes a play off."
Saunders' BYU Stats Made Him Hard to Ignore
Saunders' final BYU season was remarkable. He shot 49% from the field, 38% from three, and 82% from the free throw line. He made 2.6 three-pointers per game. Those are rare numbers for a player who also averaged 1.7 steals per game. Yahoo Sports notes he is considered one of the most efficient scorers in his draft class.
ESPN's Kevin Pelton graded the pick a "B+," writing that Saunders' profile "should have been a mid-first-round talent if not for the injury." His 6'5", 210-pound frame lets him finish at the rim and guard multiple positions. BYU coach Kevin Young told Yahoo Sports: "Richie is a pro in a college jersey. Memphis got a steal if the knee holds up."
ACL Injury Clouds an Otherwise Ready Profile
Saunders tore his ACL on February 14, 2026, during a Big 12 game. He had surgery the following month. Most NBA players take 9 to 12 months to recover from that surgery. That puts his likely return around January 2027 — meaning he will miss Summer League and the start of the regular season entirely.
Substack — subtsakalidis notes that Saunders' value on defense is more likely tied to generating steals than one-on-one lockdown defense. An anonymous Eastern Conference scout was blunt about the risk: "By the time he's fully comfortable on that leg, he's 26. Where is the ceiling? You're drafting a finished product who is currently broken."
Why Memphis Sees Him as a Rebuilding Piece
The Grizzlies are in a retooling phase after years of injury problems. They need players who can shoot and space the floor for their core stars. Saunders fits that mold. His catch-and-shoot ability and off-ball movement address a real weakness in Memphis' bench units over the past two seasons.
As the 32nd pick, Saunders will sign a second-round contract worth roughly $2M–$3M per year. That makes him a bargain if healthy. The Daily Memphian covered the pick closely, with veteran reporter Chris Herrington — who has followed the Grizzlies since 2002 — framing Saunders as a "structural" addition who uses spacing and timing rather than raw explosiveness.
The Unique Voice Breaking Down the Pick in Memphis
Chris Herrington is not a typical NBA writer. He is the only Professional Basketball Writers Association member who also votes in the Rolling Stone and Village Voice national music critic polls and belongs to a film critics group. That lens shapes how he covers the Grizzlies — including this pick.
Herrington argued that Saunders brings "narrative maturity" to a locker room that has occasionally lacked discipline. He compared Saunders' playstyle to a well-composed film: deliberate, geometric, built on timing. Whether that reads as a glowing endorsement or a polite hedge depends on how fast Saunders' knee heals.
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