Hill: Goodbye to Desmond Bane, a ‘real dude’ who represented Memphis well
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first half March 29, 2025. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Drew Hill
Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.
There was a moment, just a few days before one of the biggest trades in Memphis Grizzlies history, that local professional boxer Mike Cook tried to describe basketball star Desmond Bane.
Shortly after Bane was acquired by Memphis in 2020, the guard was introduced to Cook by then-Grizzlies assistant coach Vitaly Potapenko. Cook and Bane connected during every subsequent offseason and trained together. They became close friends.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Subscriber Only Desmond Bane2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.
Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.
Related stories
Baneville: How Desmond Bane became ‘the face of Richmond’
Desmond Bane is the face of Richmond, Indiana. His hometown roots, and specifically his time in “Baneville,” shaped the Grizzlies guard into the person he is today.
Grizzlies Insider: What centers could Memphis target in NBA Draft?
Following the Zach Edey injury news, the Grizzlies may need to address frontcourt depth in free agency and the trade market. Should they also draft a big man?
Herrington: Can the Grizzlies strike gold on the low-cost free agent market?
A look at the guards and wing players that might be available in the Grizzlies’ price range.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.