Grizzlies Storylines through 12 Games

Jaren Jackson’s Early Performance

Jaren Jackson Jr is off to a different start than many expected. After last year’s strong campaign, Jackson was projected to be the focal point of the team, and have more chances to display his unique skillset. This season hasn’t quite started that way, although recent games show Jackson trending in the right direction after a hapless start.

Most of what’s going on with Jackson is due to growing pains. He had a great rookie year, but the team this year is almost the exact opposite from last. Last year’s team had Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, two experienced stars that helped put Jackson in situations to thrive. Both were high-level offensive threats capable of drawing defenders, giving Jackson space to get to his spots. On top of that, last season’s version of the team was dead last in pace, meaning Jackson didn’t have as big of a leap to adjust to in that regard. After the team embraced the rebuilding process and shipped Gasol to Toronto, Jackson was shut down due to injury.

To start the year, Jackson has looked a little lost at times, and it’s understandable. The entire organization shifted in the offseason. Conley and Gasol are gone, leaving Jackson and Ja Morant to fill the void. New coach Taylor Jenkins is bringing in a new system, and the team is playing significantly faster than last season. That’s a lot for a second year player to adjust to. Add in the cornerstone expectations, and it’s easy to see why Jackson has struggled.

Jackson is only going to get better as the season progresses. His foul numbers are still high, and he’s still figuring out how to play in the new system, but he is already looking more comfortable with each game. His development should be a top priority for the team going forward.