MEMPHIS, November 14, 2009 – The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent guard Jamaal
Tinsley, an original draft pick of the club in 2001, Grizzlies General Manager
and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per
team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are pleased to add a veteran playmaker with Jamaal’s credentials
to the team,” Wallace said. “He will add experience and high-level
passing ability.”
One of the NBA’s most prolific playmakers over the last decade, Tinsley
ranks seventh among active players and 24th in league history in assists per
game (7.0). In his last NBA season in 2007-08, Tinsley averaged a career-high
8.4 assists in 39 games with the Indiana Pacers.
Tinsley, 31, is expected to bring his playmaking abilities to a Grizzlies team
that finished 30th in the NBA in assists (17.4) in 2008-09 and ranks 21st in
the category this season (18.8). The Brooklyn, N.Y. native holds career averages
of 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.66 steals in 30.2 minutes in
398 games over seven seasons (2001-08) with the Pacers. He was waived by Indiana
on July 22, 2009.
Originally selected by the Grizzlies with the 27th overall pick in the first
round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Tinsley’s draft rights were traded in a draft-night
deal to the Atlanta Hawks along with Shareef Abdur-Rahim in exchange for the
draft rights to Pau Gasol (No. 3 overall), Brevin Knight and Lorenzen Wright
on June 27, 2001. Tinsley’s rights were acquired later that night by the
Pacers for a future first round pick.
Tinsley had an immediate impact in his rookie season with Indiana, posting
a triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds, 23 assists) in his 14th career game
on Nov. 22, 2001 vs. the Michael Jordan-led Washington Wizards. Tinsley’s
23-assist performance established a new Pacers record and was two shy of the
NBA rookie record, shared by Tinsley’s then-head coach Isiah Thomas (1981-82)
and Ernie DiGregorio (1973-74). Tinsley was named the Eastern Conference Rookie
of the Month twice (Nov. 2001, March 2002) and earned 2001-02 All-Rookie Second
Team honors.
An updated roster is attached. The current roster stands at 15 players.
The Grizzlies will host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at 7 p.m. CT at
FedExForum.