Jaylen Wells’ father has been featured on The Anthony Sain Show to discuss Jaylen’s success.
Rookie Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells got an open look on the right wing and buried his first 3-point attempt of the night against the Sacramento Kings.
Highlights
- Jaylen Wells scored a career-high 30 points, although his team, the Grizzlies, lost the match against the Golden State Warriors.
- He was born to his father, Fred Wells, and his mother, Lakeitha Wells. His father is an assistant ER manager at Kaiser Permanente.
- Jaylen grew up with his three siblings, Tiffany, DeAndre, and AJ Wells.
The cheers came from a contingent of an estimated 200 people in attendance to see the Sacramento native play his first NBA game back where he grew up.
Wells didn’t disappoint. Although the Grizzlies lost 138-133, he scored a career-high 30 points.
Jaylen scored 27 points and made seven of eight 3-pointers through three quarters. He took two shots in the fourth, with one being a made 3-pointer just before the final buzzer expired.
Nearly 150 people, including family members, friends, and trainers, received postgame passes to see Wells after the match.
They waited in a section above the Grizzlies’ tunnel until Wells finished his postgame shower and media obligations.
Dante Miller, who has been training Wells since seventh grade, said, “He’s a 916 hero,” referring to Sacramento’s area code.
Jaylen’s Parents Appeared At Chase Center To Watch Jaylen’s Performance Against The Golden State Warriors
The Memphis Grizzlies star Jaylen Wells, 21, was born on August 26, 2003, in Sacramento, California, United States, to his father, Fred Wells, and his mother, Lakeitha Wells.
His father, Fred Wells, is an assistant ER manager at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, which makes it difficult for him to get off work and see Wells play outside of California.
On the other hand, his mother, Lakeitha, is a housewife caring for Jaylen and his siblings. In an interview, Wells said,
“She has a big job taking care of my cousin now,” “She used to work at Amazon and had a few different jobs. But her primary job was being a mother and taking care of us as we grew up.”
Jaylen Wells
Jaylen’s parents wanted to introduce him to every sport possible to see which would stick, and basketball was the sport that felt right to him.
Wells exhibited a passion for basketball from a young age, often practicing for hours under his father’s guidance. This familial support influenced the development of his skills and a disciplined work ethic.
In November 2024, his father, Fred, appeared in The Anthony Sain Show episode 141, discussing Jaylen’s early success.
Recently, Jaylen’s parents attended his match against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Following the match, his father said,
“It’s about time,” “But it’s not unusual for me. I’ve seen it. This was going to be a not-miss night, but they didn’t keep feeding him. He wasn’t going to miss tonight.”
Fred Wells
Fred Wells said his wife, Lakeitha, was surprised when he said he’d need close to 75 people to get postgame passes to meet Jaylen Wells.
People kept contacting his parents, hoping for tickets or postgame passes. Along with his family, many of them were Fred’s Kaiser Permanente co-workers who had backed his son since before the draft process.
Jaylen Wells And His Family Has Connection With African Heritage
Although Jaylen was born and raised in the United States, his ancestors were originally from Africa.
Therefore, Jaylen and his entire family are of African-American ethnicity and American nationality.
His family also includes his sister, Tiffany Wells, a registered nurse; one elder brother, AJ Wells, a tattoo artist; and one younger brother, DeAndre Wells.
His sister used to play basketball at Folsom many years ago and was a star.
DeAndre, who is 6 feet 8 inches tall, broke many records playing basketball at his high school and went on to play Division 2 basketball.
Additional Information
- Jaylen Wells started his basketball career with the Sonoma State Seawolves. During his freshman season, he averaged 12.6 points per game.
- On June 27, 2024, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Wells with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. On July 6, he signed with the Grizzlies.
- He made his NBA debut on October 13, 2024, playing in a 126-124 victory over the Utah Jazz in the season opener.
