Jerami Grant made it clear that he didn't expect to come off the bench in 2025-26. Chauncey Billups had other plans, making the difficult but correct decision to demote Grant to a sixth man role. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter has stuck with the same starting five, which has proven to be a working formula with the Blazers now 5-5 to start the season.
When fully healthy, the Blazers have seven starting-caliber players. Scoot Henderson's untimely hamstring injury seemingly left the final starting spot as a competition between Grant and Shaedon Sharpe. The versatility of Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara allows them to play multiple positions, giving Portland the flexibility to start either a guard or forward alongside their wing duo.
Sharpe ultimately solidified his case by carrying over the momentum from last season's strong finish into the offseason, where he was named the standout performer in training camp. Meanwhile, Grant's career was trending in the exact opposite direction. He was coming off a season in which he averaged 14.4 points, shooting an inefficient 37.3% from the field.
At just 31 years old, Grant was due for a bounce-back season. But despite the anticipated positive regression, Grant's already proving why Portland was still wise to bring him off the bench.
Jerami Grant's resurgence off the bench is just what the Blazers needed
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Grant now has the fourth-best odds (+1200) to win Sixth Man of the Year, behind only Jaime Jaquez Jr., Ajay Mitchell, and Quentin Grimes.
It may not have been what Grant had in mind as a veteran coming off the bench for a team with no shot at contending this season. Still, to his credit, he's handled this change professionally, not letting the decision affect anything on or off the court. And in terms of on-court production, it's precisely what Portland needed.
The Blazers' lack of depth was always going to be a problem, considering Damian Lillard is out for the season and rookie Yang Hansen is essentially unplayable, at least according to Splitter. That's already down two players on a 15-man roster. This roster construction flaw was exposed early on, following unfortunate injuries to Henderson, Matisse Thybulle, and Blake Wesley, who are also sidelined.
In other words, Grant is the only reliable scoring option coming off the bench for Portland.
As a one-dimensional player, he's perfect for that role as a bucket-getter. This season, Grant is averaging 19.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 48/40/86 shooting splits.
With the Blazers' lack of depth, there are still plenty of minutes and opportunities to go around regardless of who starts. His minutes have only dipped by roughly three per game as he's still averaging 28.7. Splitter has even played Grant down the stretch in a small-ball lineup, giving Portland more defensive switchability and transition opportunities.
It may not be an ideal situation for Grant, but it's exactly what the Blazers need at this moment. He's also getting paid $32 million to come off the bench and strictly get buckets. Not a bad gig, all things considered.