After a very interesting start to his career at Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. had a more complicated 2020-21 season. Injured for most of the year, he made an interesting comeback at the end of the year but, at the dawn of his last year of his rookie contract, we are still waiting for one more step-up from him to see him. long-term with the Grizzlies. Focus.
At the end of April 2021, Jaren Jackson Jr. is back on the NBA floors after several months of absence. Victim of a meniscus tear in the Orlando bubble in August 2020, he ultimately missed the majority of his third season in the NBA. However, the interior had just had a real good sophomore season with, in particular, an interesting statistical progression. In 2019-20, he still shot at 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 against at 47% shooting including 39% at 3-points, really interesting averages for the interior, which then appeared more and more as a true leader of the Grizzlies. But for his return to fifteen games at the end of last season, the averages had fallen, especially in outside shooting (28% of the parking lot in 2020-21). We will therefore have to restart the machine this season, quite simply.
From the height of his 2m11 and strong of his 109 kilos of barbaque, JJJ is a beautiful baby but nevertheless very mobile. We therefore understand why it is not easy to come back from such an injury and find your feelings again. But after a whole summer of working hard to get back in good shape, we are obviously waiting for a step-up from friend Jaren. At only 22 years old, he is still young and he has time to progress but hasWith an already quite varied palette that mixes 3-point shoots, station play and big defense, Triple J has all the abilities to become a monster very quickly, a real grizzly bear. On posts 4 or 5 Ja-Reine can hurt in attack with his very complete style of play and he can also bring in defense with his more than correct perimeter protection, and he forms with Ja Morant a young and complementary duo between a explosive leader and a dominant interior. Memphis want to build on this pair to perform, especially as the departure of Jonas Valanciunas and the arrival of Steven Adams can potentially be a boon for Jaren Jackson Jr. as the Kiwi will need the ball less than the Lithuanian and this could therefore benefit JJJ.
Above all, Jaren is entering his… last year of contract. Number 4 of the famous 2018 draft, a vintage for which several other players have already signed an extension to the max contract (Luka Doncic but also Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and most recently Michael Porter Jr). And if he wants to land a contract similar to his cronies, the former Michigan State will have to prove this year. Knowing that Ja Morant risks signing this famous max the following summer, for Jaren Jackson it will therefore depend on what we will see on the ground. Is JJJ the real number 2 of the Grizzlies? A lieutenant who can take over from his star when the latter is in an evening without? Or is he just a very good start in the NBA? Rather an option three from an ambitious team? In this case, not sure that a max contract placed on the inside would be legitimate.
Here, an interesting comparison can also be made with the Hawks. In a young team, which has regained ambition, around a star leader, John Collins (a position 4 that has often been considered the number 2 in his franchise) has extended for 125 million over 5 years. Finally, Collins appears today more like a good holder more than the asserted lieutenant of Ice Trae. So, similar fate for Jaren Jackson Jr. with an extension around 25 million per year? If he probably hopes for more, he will have to show on the ground that he deserves this higher price. The bubble injury has raised a lot of questions about his case and after an almost blank season we are – necessarily – not so certain. Thus, the progression displayed over these first two years must continue, the ailments must disappear and Jaren must dominate. Easy as pie ?
Ultra-important season therefore for the Triple J with this contract in the key. We are now waiting for a progression, a new milestone in the past, because Jaren Jackson Jr. is no longer the talented youngster or the little nugget of the Grizzlies, because we must pass another stage. With Ja Morant, he MUST carry this group and this team to come tickle the big fish of the West and that’s good, bears… love fish.
Source texte : Basketball Reference
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