MEMPHIS, April 20, 2012 – The Grizzlies signed free agent guard Lester Hudson, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
Hudson (6-3, 190) averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.2 minutes in 13 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season after signing the first of two 10-day contracts on March 30. The 27-year-old poured in 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.00 steals in 32.4 minutes over a three-game tear from April 6-10, including a career-high 26-point performance on April 8 at New Jersey.
Originally selected by Boston in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, Hudson holds career averages of 4.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 10.6 minutes in 49 career games for the Celtics, Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Cavaliers.
A Memphis native, Hudson recorded 4.0 points in 6.8 minutes in nine appearances for the Grizzlies as a rookie in 2009-10.
Hudson also has played professionally in the NBA Development League with the Maine Red Claws (2009-10), Dakota Wizards (2009-10) and Austin Toros (2011-12), as well as in China for the Guangdong Southern Tigers (2011) and Qingdao DoubleStar (2011-12).
An explosive scorer in the collegiate ranks for UT-Martin, Hudson averaged 27.5 points during his senior season with the Skyhawks (2008-09), ranking second in the nation in scoring behind current Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. During his junior year, he became the first men’s player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double (25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals) on Nov. 13, 2007 vs. Central Baptist College.
Hudson transferred to UT-Martin after playing his first two seasons at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.
The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 15 players.
Memphis will close out its 2011-12 road slate against the Charlotte Bobcats at 6 p.m. tonight at Time Warner Cable Arena.