Jerami Grant has been much better in what has been a resurgent 2025-26 season. The Portland Trail Blazers forward is averaging 19.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 45/40/85 shooting splits. His improved scoring efficiency and willingness to embrace a surprising sixth man role have Grant in early Sixth Man of the Year conversations.
Overall, that's a promising development as it previously looked as though Portland was stuck with what was arguably the worst contract in the association, questionably signing Grant to a five-year, $160 million deal just one day before superstar Damian Lillard's initial trade request in 2023.
However, the level of inconsistent play Grant has displayed this season remains a concern for an injury-riddled Blazers team that desperately needs their veteran to be more reliable on a nightly basis.
The Blazers need to know what version of Jerami Grant they are getting
This was a problem on full display in their recent NBA Cup loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It was a do-or-die scenario for Portland to advance, but they fell short at home with a final score of 115-102. In that contest, Grant finished with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three turnovers on 5-of-17 shooting from the field, failing to connect on all five of his three-point attempts.
In arguably one of the biggest games the Blazers have had in years, Grant returned to his old, inefficient ways.
That was quietly the deciding factor in Portland's loss as they needed Grant to step up as the secondary offensive initiator alongside Deni Avdija, especially with Shaedon Sharpe on a minutes restriction in his first game back from a right calf strain.
Overall, Grant's averages are up, but that doesn't paint the entire picture of how the season has gone. His averages have been skewed by both high and low performances, particularly in November, when he's now had four games under 15 points, including a five-point and a two-point game.
That wouldn't be as problematic if Grant were a more well-rounded player, but a significant reason Portland elected to bring him off the bench this season was his one-dimensionality as a forward who constantly looks to score, providing little in the playmaking or rebounding departments despite his positional size.
Portland learned this same lesson last year: Grant is overly reliant on his scoring to make an impact. So if his shot isn't falling, he can't impact winning in other aspects.
That's typically fine in a traditional sixth man capacity, but the Blazers have dealt with a multitude of injuries as of late, forcing them to rely on Grant in an increased role where they need him to be more consistent. Additionally, that contract will be much more challenging to convince a desperate team to take on by February's deadline if Grant is having these rollercoaster performances.
If Grant reverts to his old ways, it could wreck the Blazers' entire season.