Cam Spencer is gaining apparent ‘featured player’ status among NBA scouts

The journey from summer league prospect to centerpiece on the opposing whiteboard is rarely smooth. however, The rise of Cam Spencer with the bruising Memphis Grizzlies it is marked by a subtle but unmistakable shift in atmosphere whenever the young guard takes the floor. What started as a summer experiment crystallized into a definitive reality and a badge of honor.

Opposing teams now categorize Spencer as the primary threatper Tuomas Iisalo.

“(Spencer) is now a featured player on another team’s scouting report,” Iisalo noted. “One of the things they’re trying to do is limit the number of snaps he gets. It’s a natural evolution. We talked to Kem at the beginning of the summer about that being one possible way forward.”

For a former second-round pick who entered the league as a shooting-first guard, it’s a significant milestone. What makes Spencer so difficult to scheme is that his shooting gravity is no longer static. He does not just observe and wait for others to create. The NCAA champion now drives the advantage himself, which changes the way defenders can perform.

“(Spencer) is kind of weaponizing his shot to the degree that he can create it off the dribble,” Iisalo explained, “not just off the catch where someone else has to make it for him. The other part, once that phase is over, he’s paying a lot more attention to it now. He’s done a great job of feeding, especially (Jock Landale), who plays well off him.”

That weapon is a real jump. When a shooter can dribble in a pull-up, change his strength and force defenders to chase him over the top, the floor tilts. Suddenly, the big ones have to step up. Nail protectors must mark. The wings of the weak side cannot hug the shooters as tightly. Spencer’s jumper isn’t just about scoring; it creates.

The Grizzlies relied heavily on read-and-react principles under Iisal. Fortunately, Spencer has become one of the purest decision makers in that ecosystem, especially in two-man actions with a big bench.

“Cam finds Jock, another experienced decision maker. So when (Lendlay) finds the ball in the pocket, he can finish it or feed the open shooter,” Iisalo said. “It’s a very comfortable matchup. Cam sometimes starts a chain reaction, and that says a lot about how other teams see him.”

The partnership is a testament to Spencer’s growing court vision and basketball intelligence. Spencer is no longer just the end of the offensive line; he is often the initiator, making reads that break down defenses. This playmaking role, forged under increased defensive pressure, signals his rise in the league. Opponents stop asking, “Can he beat us?” and start asking yourself, “How do we survive it?”

For the Grizzlies, that evolution couldn’t have come at a more important time. With Memphis still running an identity shaped by injuries, roster turnover and an offense that must produce upside without relying solely on the isolation of a superstar, having a guard who can build an offense simply by threatening to shoot is invaluable.