How Tuomas Iisalo got Jalen Wells into the ‘team collective’

Building on a promising rookie year is always tough; however, no one will be surprised in the second year. Responsibilities and burdens change, which means second-rounders on rookie contracts really have to adjust. For Jaylen Wellsthe Memphis Grizzlies driven by drama they weren’t just asking him to “do more” on the stat sheet. They asked him to do more in the team. Tuomas Iisalo sheds light on the deliberate steps taken to transform Wells from a promising rookie to a versatile contributor who thrives in the group dynamic.

Since the start of the offseason, the Grizzlies have targeted specific areas where Wells’ game could expand without losing the efficient off-ball reliability that made him so valuable as a rookie. That meant a Summer League trial as a head coach, not because Memphis plans to overhaul his role, but because he has tightened up reps would allow Jalen Wells to be more comfortable attacking decisively in the course of the act.

“(Wells) had a good balance in expanding his game,” Iisalo said. “We used him a lot during Summer League as a ball-handler. We worked on that part of his game. He’s developed, but he’s also been able to fit into a role where he’s more of a catch. He’s gotten better and better, especially these last few games, getting into the game and then making passes.”

The investment pays dividends. Fortunately, Wales has found a natural balance between his refined instincts off the ball and his increasing ability to create advantages with the ball in his hands. This allowed Memphis to move up in the standings while playing without Ja Morant.

“We call it airtime decisions,” Iisalo explained. “Pass, kick or drive, but you have to make that decision very quickly. (Wells) has gotten better at it since his early years.”

While his offensive evolution is noteworthy, his defensive growth may be even more impressive. The Grizzlies have entrusted him with some of their toughest assignments, often tasking him with negating the best perimeter threat throughout a possession. What stands out to the coaching staff is not just the ability to deal with these individual match-ups, but how Wales are learning to do so in Iisal’s defensive framework.

Grizzlies give Jalen Wells extra work

Instead of operating as an isolated on-ball defender, Wells reintegrated into what Iisalo calls a “team collective” on defense by staying connected to the scheme while still providing blocking coverage.

“(Wells) has also taken on more versatile assignments than last year defensively,” Iisalo noted. “We got him to shut down the best guy on the other team, sticking with that opponent. I think he’s done a really good job of improving as part of the team defensively and still being able to take on those tougher assignments. It’s not just offensively but defensively where he gives us a lot.”

This dual responsibility represents a significant leap in sophistication from his rookie year. Wells is no longer just a promising shooter to be hidden in defense. He has become a versatile two-way player who makes Memphis better on both ends. The result is a player who has become more confident in his decision-making, more versatile in defensive tasks and more valuable to a team with championship aspirations.

For a second-year player still in the league, that’s exactly the kind of growth curve the Grizzlies were hoping for. Wells isn’t just getting better doing a Jimmy Butler impression; he’s getting better in ways that translate directly to winning at basketball. In a city and franchise culture built on toughness and collective effort, it might be the most important development of all.