Cam Boozer starts his NBA life without his twin: 'You've got to go through it yourself'
WhyNBA Sports Desk · Oct 18, 2026
The story
Cameron Boozer will make his regular-season debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday without the teammate who has shared nearly every game of his life: his twin brother, Cayden, who stayed at Duke when Cam turned pro.
The story
The 19-year-old forward, chosen third overall in June, told reporters that the separation is the hardest adjustment of his first NBA autumn.
The story
What he misses most, he said, is "not going through the tough moments and the great moments with him." He was just as clear that the brothers saw this coming and feel ready for it, describing the split as a new step for both of them.
The story
His answer to the pressure that comes with being the No. 3 pick, and the son of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, was blunt. Advice from family helps, he said, but "at the end of the day, you've got to go through it yourself."
A preseason that backed up the hype
Boozer arrived in Memphis as the national college player of the year after one season at Duke, where he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists and made 39.1% of his threes.
A preseason that backed up the hype
NBA general managers picked him as their projected Rookie of the Year in the league's annual survey, and he enters the season as a betting favorite for the award. No Grizzly has won it since Ja Morant in 2020.
A preseason that backed up the hype
His four exhibition games, logged on his player page, showed why. He scored 56 points in roughly 82 minutes, an average of 14.0 a night, with 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He shot 16 of 34 from the field (47.1%) and lived at the line, going 20 of 24 on free throws.
A preseason that backed up the hype
His best night came in the preseason finale on Friday, October 16, against Charlotte: 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes of a 116-98 win, with nine of his 10 free throws falling. Memphis went 3-1 in his four games.
A preseason that backed up the hype
The highlight most fans will remember came on October 9 in Chicago, when he caught, took a dribble and threw down a poster dunk in a 104-100 win.
A centerpiece for a rebuild
The stakes around him are higher than for most rookies. With Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. both dealt away in 2026, Boozer now sits at the center of a young group that includes Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson.
A centerpiece for a rebuild
Coach Tuomas Iisalo has singled out his passing as already advanced, while general manager Zach Kleiman has said the club will not limit what the 6-foot-10 forward is asked to do and will hand him as much as he is ready for.
A centerpiece for a rebuild
Iisalo also expects an adjustment period as Boozer learns to score inside and in the post against NBA size.
A centerpiece for a rebuild
Boozer said he is trying not to look past the next practice. Winning comes first, he said, and individual honors will follow if he takes care of each day, a lesson he credits to his father.
What comes next
The Grizzlies open the regular season at home against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET (Game Center). It is one of several debut nights for the top picks of the 2026 draft, and Boozer's numbers will update on his player page after the final buzzer.
Photo credit
Photo by Trev0B, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized. FedExForum during a Grizzlies game, April 2015.
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