Syracuse Basketball: Jerami Grant a top-80 NBA player, and deservedly so

Former Syracuse basketball player Jerami Grant is getting some nice recognition for his recent success.

Fresh off inking a new contract with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, former Syracuse basketball star Jerami Grant has found himself ranked one of the top-80 players in the sport.

Jeremy Woo, a Sports Illustrated staff writer and NBA Draft insider, is putting out a feature where he rates the top-100 NBA players of 2021 as the upcoming season inches closer to fruition.

Grant, a forward who suited up on the Orange’s 2012-13 Final Four team as well as the ‘Cuse 2013-14 crew that raced to a 25-0 start, checks in at No. 79 on Woo’s list.

Last month, Detroit announced that it had acquired Grant from the Denver Nuggets. Media reports indicate that Grant signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Pistons. That is big money, and I’m incredibly happy for Grant, who has continually worked on improving his craft and these days has a terrific standing in the NBA.

During the 2019-20 campaign with Denver, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound Grant netted averages of 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks a game, while logging 26.6 minutes in 71 regular-term contests, including 24 starts, according to the Pistons press release from Nov. 22.

Grant connected on 47.8 percent from the field last year in the regular season, along with 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe.

In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Grant averaged 34.4 minutes, 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 blocks in 19 encounters, including 16 starts, per the Detroit media statement. The Nuggets, by the way, reached the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the eventual NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Syracuse basketball sensation Jerami Grant absolutely should be considered a top-80 NBA player.

Grant, prior to joining Denver, competed for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that selected him No. 39 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Woo, in his write-up on Grant, said the former Orange star “enters the season as one of the most interesting players to watch throughout the league.”

"Woo added, in part, “Pistons first-year general manager Troy Weaver said Grant was their top priority, and Grant said at his introductory Pistons press conference that the challenge of Detroit ‘intrigued’ him. The 26-year-old will look to become a more complete player with the Pistons. He has proved to be a versatile defender and has shot nearly 40% from three in each of his past two seasons. However, it remains to be seen whether the former second-round pick can grow into a go-to scorer or merely a solid role player for years to come.”"

I agree with Woo in that only time will tell if Grant can evolve into a “go-to scorer,” however, I believe that Grant has already demonstrated he’s much more than a “solid role player.” Congrats, Jerami!