Memphis Grizzlies: 3 implications of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s late April return

The Memphis Grizzlies have played a half-season of basketball without one of their top contributors. They’re 41 games into the season and Jaren Jackson Jr. hasn’t stepped onto the court in a Grizzlies uniform once.

Eight months ago, the 21-year old forward came down awkwardly on his knee in an NBA Bubble game. It looked bad and he would later be diagnosed with a torn meniscus. This would cause him to miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Eventually, the Grizzlies would be knocked out of a play-in game by a superior Portland Trail Blazers team. They put up a fight but didn’t stand much of a chance in the NBA Playoffs without their young star.

The Memphis Grizzlies were disappointed but hopeful for JJJ’s return

The general feeling around the city of Memphis could best be described as a feeling of disappointment. The Grizzlies were an extremely young team, led by two 20-year olds, but they were ready to make some noise in the NBA Playoffs.

That would be put on hold until the 2020-21 season with Jackson Jr. out of the lineup for the remainder of the year.

Unfortunately, things didn’t stop there. The Grizzlies have already played 41 games this year without JJJ in the lineup. In a shortened season, that has a huge impact on where they’ll be seeded for the playoffs.

He will not be returning to the lineup until late April, so this Grizzlies team is going to have to buckle down for the remainder of the season.

Currently, the Grizzlies sit in the 9th position in the Western Conference. In a competitive west, every win counts. Without Jackson Jr., they are at risk of getting bumped out of the playoffs.