Richie Saunders is in a unique spot for a rookie.
He turns 25 this September, making him older than the majority of his new Memphis Grizzlies teammates who already hold significant NBA seasoning.
Put it this way — when Saunders graduated from high school back in 2020, Memphis’ new top draft choice Cameron Boozer was just 12 years old.
But just as he said during the pre-draft process, Saunders views his age as an advantage in entering the NBA with a wealth of experience under his belt.
“It took a little bit, but I’m here,” Saunders said with a laugh Thursday at his introductory press conference with the Grizzlies.
“I mean, that’s how it’s been. I think last year (at BYU) just being with younger players and being able to help guide them in the ways that I’ve seen, just using my experience in the game, it’s been great.
“I’m young in the sense of I’ve never put on an NBA uniform, but I’m going to come in and use my previous experience that I’ve had over the years and really just focus it here and hopefully be able to guide some of my young teammates as well as a rookie. It’s funny saying my ‘young teammates,’ but that’s what it is.”
The Grizzlies drafted Saunders with the second pick of the second round of this year’s draft earlier this week, resisting trade offers for the No. 32 pick from other teams so they could select the senior sharpshooter from BYU.
Saunders’ wife, the former Sierra Johnson, hails from Arkansas, so Saunders has already spent some time in the south prior to becoming the Grizzlies’ second round man.
As for Memphis itself, he said he’s looking forward to the town’s barbecue, music scene and seeing the famous Peabody Ducks — the latter being no surprise considering the duck-feeding business Saunders started as a youngster back in Utah to help fund his two-year Latter-day Saint mission.
“(I’ve been welcomed by the Grizzlies with) open arms,” Saunders said. “Everybody’s been super friendly, and it’s clear everybody has the right goal and right mindset of winning and playing hard.”
Having torn his ACL back in February, Saunders will be unable to participate in Summer League with the Grizzlies, and his return date remains to be seen.
However, he’s not letting his current health status dampen his enthusiasm for getting back on the hardwood eventually.
“It was hard, right? Coming off of or having pretty much a life changing injury, I’ve never experienced that, but I’ve been just so focused on getting better and focused on having a great foundation,” Saunders said. “As I enter into this next step from a knee standpoint, it’s just been a grind, it’s been work, and that’s what I’ve done my whole career, is work.
“I’m just grateful to be here. I’m grateful to finish my rehab here and be playing when I’m playing, and be able to just work alongside these guys and alongside the rest of the team and bring what I bring to the table and help win games.”
The Grizzlies have fallen on harder times in recent years, but Boozer, Saunders and No. 21 overall draft selection Karim Lopez help represent the hope for the franchise’s return to playoff contention through toughness, hustle and grit.
“When we’re thinking about the type of individuals that embody this team, this organization, you’re looking at them,” said Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman, referring to Saunders, Boozer and Lopez.
“I think they speak for themselves, the professionalism comes through. These guys are all focused on winning. At the end of the day, that’s what it all flows from. We’ve got tough-minded, physically tough, highly-skilled (players), but these are guys that are going to go out and fight every day ... we couldn’t be more excited organizationally because this is the Grizzlies’ DNA.”
