Memphis Grizzlies Sign Kenneth Lofton Jr. To Multi-Year Contract

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed forward/center Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. In related moves, the Grizzlies signed guard Jacob Gilyard to a two-way contract and waived guard Kennedy Chandler.

Lofton Jr. (6-8, 275) was named the 2022-23 NBA G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes in 17 regular season games (15 starts) for the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate. The 20-year-old, who originally signed a two-way contract on July 1 following his sophomore year at Louisiana Tech, has made 23 appearances as a reserve for the Grizzlies and has averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.9 minutes.

Gilyard (5-9, 160) competed in 31 regular season games (25 starts) for the Memphis Hustle this season and averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, a league-leading 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 30.4 minutes. The 24-year-old, who set an NCAA Division I record for steals during his collegiate career at Richmond, recorded double-digit assists 22 times and posted eight double-doubles for the Hustle.

Chandler (6-0, 171) made 36 appearances as a reserve for the Grizzlies this season. The 20-year-old was selected 38^th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Tennessee.