đ¨ LOUD & CLEAR: Tennesseeâs Sixth Man Jordan Gainey Delivers the DraftâWeek Message Heâs Been Waiting For
Knoxville, TN â As NBA Draft week ramps up, Jordan Gainey, Tennesseeâs hardâcharging sixth man, is sending a message loud and clear: He belongs. After two seasons terrorizing benches, Gainey has transformed into a key piece of the Volunteersâ deep tournament runsâand now, NBA teams are taking notice.
Fresh off a workout with the Memphis Grizzlies, Gainey seized the moment in front of pro scouts . There, he showcased the blend of scoring punch, defensive intensity, and clutch DNA that earned him Sixth Man of the Year honors. Averaging 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 38 games (40.5% shooting; 30.4% from deep), heâs proven he can shift games from the bench .
Tonight, he delivered the statement he’s been preparing for.
> âIâve always been the guy coming off the benchâbut that never meant I wasnât ready,â Gainey said after the Grizzlies workout. âI bring energy, I bring leadership, and I bring it every time I step on the floor.â
His explosive fullâcourt layup to beat Illinois in March still echoes in NCAA highlight reelsâand tonight, Gainey reminded everyone why he earned that startingâlineup energyâcome off the bench or straight into pro consideration .
Pick-and-roll prowess? Check. Defensive versatility? Absolutely. Sixth man grit? Unmatched. NBA scouts walking out of Grizzlies facility reportedly nodded in agreement: Gainey was showing upâon both ends.
> The energy was differentâconfident, calm, and assertive. Iâve got pro tools,â Gainey added.
Tennesseeâs own Chaz Lanier, projected in the first round even as Gainey shines in secondâround or twoâway territory, praised his teammate: âJordan makes our team better. He can make an NBA bench better, too.â
Gaineyâs message tonight wasnât subtleâit was resounding: from locker room spark to NBA contender. Draft week had arrived. And Jordan Gainey is ready to roar.
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