Javon Small’s NBA career is officially underway. He made his Summer League debut on Saturday, July 5. He impressed the team enough to earn a contract after his first performance. The 48th overall, second-round pick signed a two-way agreement to cement his place in the organization for at least this season. Small was excellent in his first and only season with the Mountaineers and is taking his game to the next level. Read more: Grizzlies Sign Javon Small to Two-Way Contract.
Grizzlies Sign Javon Small to Two-Way Contract
Javon Small’s Summer League was a success. He came off the bench and played 19 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s squad. He did not do much scoring, but contributed elsewhere. Small finished with four points on two of six shots from the field. He missed both three-point attempts he took.
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The bright spot in his debut was his playmaking, which he showed with WVU. He was asked to be the primary scorer for the Mountaineers after the Tucker DeVries injury last season, and did not get to showcase his elite playmaking as a ballhandler. He had six assists off the bench, with only one turnover. Small also had one steal in the Grizzlies’ lone win thus far in the Summer League.
Attack the Rim Small 💪 pic.twitter.com/4pcsHqjinY
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 5, 2025
Two-Way Contract for the Former Mountaineer
The Grizzlies announced on Thursday, July 10, that they signed Javon Small to a two-way contract. The Grizzlies did not disclose the details of the deal, but he inked the deal to secure his spot. He will split his time in his rookie season between the Memphis Hustle of the G-League and the Grizzlies. He is eligible to play in up to 50 NBA games.
The @memgrizz today announced the team signed Javon Small to a two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/MAQDLcNEf4
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) July 10, 2025
Summer League Start
The Grizzlies are 1-2 so far in Summer League play. Small only played in the first game and did not play in the next two. The second game featured players who were likely competing for a roster spot in the G-League. Small also did not play in the third game, but the Grizzlies played most of their draft picks from last season and a few undrafted players.
Their next game is on Friday, July 11, against the Boston Celtics’ Summer League squad at 4 p.m. Eastern on the second day of play in Las Vegas. The Grizzlies’ next game is scheduled for the following day against the Trail Blazers at 10:30 p.m. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, against the Warriors at 10:30 p.m. Their final scheduled game in Las Vegas is on Thursday, July 17, at 6 p.m. against the Atlanta Hawks.
Small should receive more playing time in the four scheduled games, as the Grizzlies will want to see what he can do against NBA competition. The top four teams based on winning percentage in the first four games will advance to the playoffs in the Las Vegas Summer League. The remaining 26 teams will get a fifth game on the final three days of the showcase in Las Vegas.
Playing Time With the Grizzlies
Small will likely play most of the season in the G-League, depending on injuries. The Grizzlies have a slew of guards on the NBA roster, including Ja Morant, Scottie Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Vince Williams Jr., Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and John Konchar. They also have the likes of Cam Spencer, Jahmai Mashack, and Zyon Pullin, who will be competing for playing time with Javon Small in the G-League and off the bench in the NBA.
