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Grizzlies' Javon Small’s Grandpa Was So Emotional Watching Him Get Drafted
Cameras caught the raw emotions of one basketball family during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, when the Memphis Grizzlies selected West Virginia guard Javon Small with the No. 48 pick Thursday night.
Small was widely mocked to go late in the second round, and after the Grizzlies picked him up, the cameras panned to his grandfather, who was sitting in the audience going through a wave of emotions. Tears appeared to well up in Small's grandfather's eyes, and at one point he excitedly jumped out of his seat shouting, "My boy!"
Look at what it meant to him:
Javon Small was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, and his grandfather was very emotional. #NBA #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/c8wfPJIbSE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 27, 2025
"My family is just my world, man," Small said, when asked how he felt watching his grandpa get so emotional. "To see my pop pop over there with me, he took me to every single tournament since I was a little kid, rarely missed any games. That's who I do it for."
NBA fans loved seeing Small's grandpa let it all out on such a special night for his family:
Javon's grandfather was HYPE pic.twitter.com/r3BAyWJt69
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 27, 2025
Javon Small's grandpa letting the emotions go after his boy is drafted. This is what it's all about. pic.twitter.com/wWAnr6b5pZ
— Gold And Blue Zone (@GoldAndBlueZone) June 27, 2025
The emotion and deep pride from Javon Small's grandpa was the moment of the second round. So cool to see outwardly what the emotions must feel like for friends and family.
— Jimmy Spencer (@JimmySpencer) June 27, 2025
I now have rooting interest in Javon Small making it because I want to see his grandfather happy.
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) June 27, 2025
I am now Javon Small FC after his grandfather’s reaction. Hope bro flourishes in the league
— 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙯𝙮 (@WoozyWho) June 27, 2025
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Kristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020. Before joining SI in November 2023, Wong covered four NFL teams as an associate editor with the FanSided NFL Network and worked as a staff writer for the brand’s flagship site. Outside of work, she has dreams of running her own sporty dive bar.