The NBA Draft is supposed to be serious business. It’s a night of tense silences, war-room strategies, and dreams realized or crushed in an instant. But every now and then, live television delivers a moment of pure, unintentional comedy that’s so perfect, it completely hijacks the entire event. And on Wednesday night, ESPN’s Malika Andrews gave us an all-timer. The moment came with the 11th pick in the draft. As the Portland Trail Blazers’ selection of Washington State forward Cedric Coward was about to be announced, Malika, ready to toss to a commercial break, had a legendary slip of the tongue.

Instead of Cedric Coward, she confidently declared, “Colin Cowherd is on his way to Portland.” The broadcast booth erupted in laughter. The internet exploded. And just like that, a 61-year-old sports talk radio host was the newest lottery pick in the NBA. Awful Announcing’s X handle swiftly reported the gaffe, saying, “Colin Cowherd was just drafted, according to Malika Andrews. 🏀🎙️ #NBADraft “. The real Colin Cowherd, of course, was quick to lean into the joke. He immediately took to X to hilariously embrace his new career. He tweeted: “Apparently, I made a hell of an impact in Portland.”

Continuing the lighter tone, Coward posted an AI-generated image of himself in a Trail Blazers jersey with the caption, “Nothing against Memphis but this would have been epic.” It was a hilarious end to a bizarre draft-night moment, and while the gaffe overshadowed the pick itself, Coward’s journey to the league is anything but a joke. He’s a player who has fought his way from obscurity to the NBA lottery.

Coward began his college career at Willamette University, a Division III program, before transferring to Eastern Washington, where he was named a unanimous All-Big Sky First-Team selection. He then transferred to Washington State, where he averaged an impressive 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The laughter was still echoing from Malika’s viral gaffe when news broke that the pick was headed to Memphis. Suddenly, the joke gave way to intrigue.

The Grizzlies, after a season derailed by injuries, weren’t even supposed to be in the lottery. They held the 16th pick and needed help on the wing. But when Cedric Coward—a lottery-grade talent—started slipping, GM Zach Kleiman pounced. According to Shams Charania, Memphis sent No. 16, a 2028 first-rounder from Orlando, and two future second-rounders to Portland to move up to No. 11 and take their guy. It was bold, calculated, and very on brand for Kleiman, who’s made a habit of moving up for players he believes in.

From D-III to the draft, why Zach Kleiman bet the farm on Cedric Coward

Since taking over in 2019, Kleiman has made a habit of identifying his guy and aggressively moving up to get him. He did it when he traded up for Brandon Clarke in that same draft, and he’s made similar moves in the years since. It’s a philosophy rooted in the belief that when you see a player who fits your system and your culture, you don’t wait around and hope he falls to you. You go get him.

And Cedric Coward is, in many ways, the quintessential Grizzlies player. At 6’6″ with a staggering 7’2″ wingspan, he has the size and length to be a disruptive, multi-positional defender, a perfect fit for a team that prides itself on its gritty, defensive identity. His former coach at Washington State, David Riley, only has nice things to say about him: “The greatest thing about him is he is not going to let any of this hype… change his approach. He kind of approaches everything the same way whether he won the last game, lost the last game, had 30 points or had 30 points dropped on him.”

The praise from draft experts backs up the Grizzlies’ aggressive move. On3’s James Fletcher III raved about Coward’s potential ahead of the draft, writing, “His overall game brings the same shooting and defense combination which every team looks for in role players… Whether overlooked or out of sight, he is now in the mix to come off the board early.”

RotoWire was even more complimentary, noting that his “gameplay stands out for a number of reasons, chief among them being his reliable 3-point shooting stroke… motor and rebounding.” The analysis continued, praising his ability to guard multiple positions and his growth throughout his college career, concluding that “the 21-year-old can do a little bit of everything at a premium position at the next level.”

But, the fit isn’t just about his on-court skills—it’s about his mentality. Coward’s journey from an unranked high school prospect to a Division III player at Willamette, to a star at Eastern Washington, and finally to a lottery pick is a testament to his relentless work ethic.

He’s had to fight for everything he’s earned. That kind of grit resonates in Memphis—a blue-collar city with a locker room full of players who have walked similar paths. It’s not just that Coward belongs here; it’s that he already speaks the language. When asked about his competitive nature, Coward’s answer was pure Memphis grit: “If I’m going against you on the court, I’m trying to kill you. I’m trying to take your head off. That’s all it is.”

This is a move that isn’t just about the upcoming season, it’s about the future. The Grizzlies are building something special, a young, talented core that is poised to contend for years to come. In Cedric Coward, they didn’t just get another player, they got a guy who fits their identity perfectly. The price was steep, but for a GM like Zach Kleiman, when you find your guy, you do whatever it takes to bring him home.