It was one of the better wins of the season for the Memphis Grizzlies. A game that was not a must win - but was a “really want to win”. The players themselves said it - and their leader helped deliver them to victory.
Coming back from a double-digit deficit at halftime, he scored nine of his 21 points on the night in clutch time (inside the final 5:00 minutes of the game). And with the help of his partner in crime Desmond Bane, he got the Grizzlies their first win over the Houston Rockets this season.
And all the while, Ja Morant sat on the bench watching Jaren Jackson Jr. fill the role that was once his.
Context, of course, matters. Ja Morant has dealt with a bevy of injuries this season. The soreness that kept him out of Thursday’s showdown with the Houston Rockets was in his surgically repaired shoulder. And his teammates and head coach Taylor Jenkins have all said that Ja was locked in and a contributor to the victory as a supporter on the bench.
But your eyes (admittedly from afar) can tell you a different story. Ja was on the second row of the bench last night, wearing a mask most of the evening and body language that said something other than Morant being “locked in”. Speculating on the “why” of Ja’s recent struggles and apparent disinterest will run rampant. But beyond that, one thing was clear.
Memphis, for now, has a new leader.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was named to his second All-Star Game as a reserve yesterday. From the press release by Grizzlies press relations-
“In his seventh NBA season, Jackson Jr. has started all 45 appearances and has averaged a career-high 22.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, a career-best 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks in 29.5 minutes to lead the Grizzlies to a 31-16 record (third in the Western Conference). The 25-year-old, who earned his first career Western Conference Player of the Week award on Monday, is the only NBA player with at least 50 3-pointers made, 50 steals and 50 blocks this season.”
Jaren’s career season being rewarded with an All-Star birth isn’t surprising. He isn’t just one of the best in the NBA - he is arguably among the 10-15 best players in the league this year.
The end of the release is most impactful, though -
“Jackson Jr. is the fourth player in franchise history to be named to receive multiple All-Star selections for the Grizzlies, joining Zach Randolph (2010, 2013), Marc Gasol (2012, 2015, 2017) and Ja Morant (2022, 2023).”
As Ja has been unable to stay on the court, Jackson has now joined him as a multi-time Grizzlies All-Star. Morant still has the accolades advantage...but that gap is closing.
When Morant plays consistently? He’s a superstar. But in his off and on absence over the last almost two years, Jackson has filled that void. Memphis is not better without Ja.
But without Jaren? The Grizzlies would almost certainly be lost. And that makes him this team’s driving force for the time being.
