NBA Draft: Grizzlies select Duke forward Cameron Boozer with No. 3 overall pick
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Andy BackstromContributing writerWed, June 24, 2026 at 1:30 AM UTC·4 min readCameron Boozer had enormous shoes to fill in Durham as the successor to Cooper Flagg, the youngest No. 1 overall pick since LeBron James in 2003. And while Boozer isn't quite the generational player Flagg is, he seamlessly slid into the starring role for a Blue Devils program that's made a habit of contending for national titles despite rostering plenty of one-and-done standouts.
As expected, Boozer proved to be that caliber of NBA prospect and officially graduated to the next level Tuesday night, when the Memphis Grizzlies selected the forward with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
AdvertisementAdvertisementYahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor described the 6-foot-8 Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA veteran Carlos Boozer, as "the most polished player in the class" in his June 23 mock draft:
"He scores from the post with both footwork and power, hits 40% of his 3s on high volume and has enough handle to run the offense as a point forward. He shifts between those modes based on what the defense gives him, and that adaptability led to a 35-win season at Duke and being named Naismith Player of the Year."
"… With the bloodline of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, the team that drafts him is betting that skill, adaptability and a track record of winning at every level all lead to superstardom."
Now, he'll join a Grizzlies team that struggled to a 25-57 record last season and finds itself at a crossroads after the implosion of the Ja Morant-Jaren Jackson Jr. era. The latter has already been dealt to the Utah Jazz, while the former's contract seems to be hurting Memphis more than helping.
Boozer gives the Grizzlies a new keystone and should arrive ready for a featured role. BYU star AJ Dybantsa went first overall to the Washington Wizards, while the Utah Jazz took Darryn Peterson second.
Boozer averaged 22.5 points, an ACC-leading 10.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 55.6% from the field, 39.1% from 3 and 78.9% from the free-throw line.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAlong with his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, a playmaking guard who has returned to Duke for his sophomore season, Cameron Boozer drew national interest as a highly touted recruit. They turned heads at Florida's Christopher Columbus High School, also the alma mater of Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who went No. 1 overall in this year's NFL Draft.
Despite growing up in Miami, the Boozer brothers chose Duke, where their father went to school, over Miami, Florida and Kentucky.
Throughout high school, Cameron Boozer was a consensus top-three recruit. He was named the 2023 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year at just 15 years old and won that award again two years later. Together, he and his brother took home four straight state titles at Columbus.
AdvertisementAdvertisementTo top off their illustrious high school career, they earned a national title at the 2025 Chipotle Nationals.
Unfortunately for the storied sibling duo, it came up short of that prestige at the college level this past season. Duke collapsed versus a national title-game bound UConn squad in the Elite Eight, with Cayden Boozer ultimately committing an ill-fated turnover that set the stage for the Huskies' stunning game-winner.
Cameron Boozer declared for the draft the following month. He was widely projected to go in the top three — and for good reason.
He's coming off one of the most prolific freshman seasons to date. Boozer became the ACC Rookie of the Year, the ACC Player of the Year and the consensus National Player of the Year in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe scored 20-plus points in 23 of his 38 games, eclipsing the 30-point mark four times. Boozer helped Duke win ACC regular-season and tournament titles and enter the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed.
Boozer's father exceeded expectations as a second-round pick who went No. 35 overall in 2002. He played a combined 15 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2002-04), Utah Jazz (2004-10), Chicago Bulls (2010-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15), averaging 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Even more will be expected of son Cameron, a potential needle-mover for the Grizzlies.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
