Kevin Garnett Takes Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr Underneath Wing

NBA legend Kevin Garnett has kept close communication with Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr throughout his inaugural professional season. He continues to mold the rookie.

For Jaren Jackson Jr. — the Memphis Grizzlies‘ first round selection in the 2018 NBA Draft — it has to feel good having a mentor in Kevin Garnett, an NBA World Champion and a 15-time NBA All-Star.

The annual slate of NBA games for Martin Luther King Jr Day brought a handful of celebrity guests to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, as it always does. Still, one of the biggest names of them all — Garnett — was not a planned guest for the festivities.

Kevin Garnett sat courtside during the Memphis Grizzlies’ home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. While he may have chosen this particular game due to the MLK Day ceremonies, his main reason was to spectate and support Jaren Jackson Jr.

The connection between Garnett and Jackson Jr. formed prior to the 2018-19 season. KG has been a fan of JJJ. The two players are very comparable to one another. Both guys were defense-first, but packed an arsenal of offensive weapons. Additionally, the two big men stand at the same stature of 6’11” and 240 pounds.

Jaren has shown flashes of greatness in multiple instances through the season’s first half. It is not just his 36 points in a come-from-behind victory over the Brooklyn Nets in which he forced overtime then led his squad to a win.

Jackson Jr demonstrates star potential in nearly every single game regardless of foul trouble. He blocks shots with ease. He has a knack for gaining early post position. He entered the league at the age of 19 with more post moves than Dwight Howard has ever developed through 15 seasons. Plus, he has a smooth outside shot to boot. What is not to love about this kid’s potential?

When Kevin Garnett left high school for a direct route to the NBA in 1995, scouts were saying the same things about him. Jaren has a tad bit more muscle than KG did when he was 19, but both players are/were very athletic for their frontcourt positions. They both have the ability to stretch the floor in addition to defending multiple positions.

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This is an excellent comparison and hoops fans cannot deny it. It is more accurate than the Dwyane Wade and Donovan Mitchell comparison that has been floating around for the past year or so, which is spot on. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted the makings of a future legend just as the Minnesota Timberwolves did in 1995.

Following Monday’s game between the Grizzlies and Pelicans, Garnett stuck around town. He joined The Chris Vernon Show on Tuesday, which featured Tony Allen for a third consecutive week. Allen is a Grizzly legend himself, plus won an NBA World Championship with Kevin Garnett in 2008. Pure gold was expected, and the segment did not disappoint.

In particular, Garnett was asked about Jaren Jackson Jr. and his development over the past few months. Kevin was gushing of the Michigan State product. View the full discussion directly below:

As told during The Chris Vernon Show, Kevin Garnett left the studio to meet with Jaren Jackson Jr. KG sat down with JJJ and talked hoops, which will probably air soon on KG’s Area 21. The two guys also hit the Memphis Grizzlies’ practice court to get a workout in.

Right now, Jaren seems as if his in the back seat. He is watching and learning, and therefore is not very vocal for the time being. That is okay — for now. He has all the skills, but the leadership quality is most definitely an item on his personal development checklist.

With Kevin Garnett as Jaren’s mentor, Grizz Nation can only hope that the gnarly demeanor of KG rubs off onto the 19-year-old Grizz rookie.

Memphis has been lacking the vocal presence and locker room leadership since Tony Allen and Zach Randolph departed the team in 2017. Something that will take Jackson Jr. from “good” to “great” is developing his leadership characteristic, which absolutely includes himself being the guy to speak up when things are not going well for the team, much like the Grizzlies are currently experiencing.

Having the wisdom and expertise of Kevin Garnett in Jaren Jackson Jr.’s back pocket is an incredible blessing for this youngster’s NBA career. For young players that get the opportunity to work directly with an NBA legend, it typically takes several years to make the connection.

For both Jaren and the Grizzlies organization, it is a case of the sooner, the better. Based upon Tuesday’s news surrounding NBA trade rumors, Jackson Jr.’s time to become “the man” in Memphis is right now. Today.