Memphis Grizzlies Take Duke Star Cameron Boozer No. 3 in 2026 NBA Draft

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Duke freshman Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to the league’s official announcement Tuesday night. The NBA’s official nba.com Bluesky account posted at 12:33 a.m. UTC: “WITH THE 3RD PICK IN THE 2026 NBA DRAFT THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES SELECT CAMERON BOOZER.”

Boozer enters the NBA after one of the most decorated one-and-done seasons in college basketball. The 6-foot-8, 253-pound forward-center was the consensus 2025-26 national college player of the year and freshman of the year, according to his NBA draft prospect profile. He is also the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. The Associated Press named Cameron Boozer its men’s national player of the year on April 3.

In 38 starts for Duke, Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in the 2025-26 season. He shot 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. He also tied for the national lead with 22 double-doubles and set Duke freshman records for rebounds with 389 and free throws made with 221.

The NBA’s 2026 draft board listed Memphis at No. 3 in the first round entering the night, and the Grizzlies landed that pick in the May 10 draft lottery. No trade was announced in the league’s post at the time of the selection.

Boozer, who was born July 18, 2007, gives Memphis a top-three addition with a college résumé built on production and consistency. Duke coach Jon Scheyer, quoted on Boozer’s NBA prospect profile, said, “He is all about his teammates. He is not about numbers. He is about winning. I think when your best player is that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.”

That matched the way Boozer described his approach when he spoke to the AP after receiving its national player of the year honor: “You just want to affect winning in whatever way you can.”