Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return will break the Western Conference

The Memphis Grizzlies were not supposed to do much this season. After Jaren Jackson Jr. was injured toward the end of 2019-20, the Grizzlies didn’t stand a chance in that year’s play-in game. They’d lose to the Trail Blazers and looked like an incomplete squad without their number two guy.

Looking forward to 2021, things looked bleak. Jaren Jackson Jr. was set to return sometime after the NBA All-Star break, meaning that the Grizzlies would have to play at least half of their season without him.

Little did fans know, they would have been lucky to have him back after the All-Star break. Over a month has passed since All-Star weekend and the Grizzlies are still playing without the second-best player on their team. But that’s the weird part.

The Memphis Grizzlies are playing their best basketball in years without Jaren Jackson Jr.

If you had to guess prior to the season what the Grizzlies record would be thus far without JJJ in the lineup, you’d assume that they have a losing record. It’s not a knock against the team, just a simple fact that a losing team is destined to take a step back without a key contributor.

But that hasn’t been the case at all in the 2020-21 season. In fact, the Grizzlies look like a vastly improved squad compared to how they played a year ago.

They’re rebounding extremely well, making efficient passes, and most importantly, winning big basketball games. They’re doing all of this without a guy who had the potential to make the All-Star game if he had played a full season.

Here’s why Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return will break the NBA.