The Memphis Grizzlies have had a rough go recently, missing the 2024 playoffs due to significant injuries to their core players. Jaren Jackson Jr. stepped up to shoulder a more substantial load for the team, with stars like Ja Morant and Desmond Bane sidelined for much of the season. As the Grizzlies head into the 2024-25 season, Jackson remains crucial to their plans to return to Western Conference contention.
While the Grizzlies missed the playoffs last season after two consecutive years as the second seed, Jackson’s growth has been one of the silver linings. With Ja Morant playing in just nine games and Desmond Bane appearing in only 42, Jackson had to take on an expanded offensive role. Last season, he averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game on 17.6 shot attempts—a significant leap from previous seasons.
Although Jackson shot just 44.4% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc, the experience gained as a primary scoring option will be invaluable for the Grizzlies moving forward. Known for his defense, having won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, Jackson has shown he can be a two-way threat in the NBA.