Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to shock the NBA in 2021-22

Memphis Grizzlies F Jaren Jackson Jr.’s offensive game has always taken time to develop

A lot of fans like to hit the panic button when a certain player struggles as a shooter. Sometimes it’s hard not to. When Ja Morant was still hovering around the mid-20s in his 3-point shooting percentage after the NBA All-Star break this past season, even I became skeptical that he may just have a broken jump shot. With time, he began to shoot at an improved clip.

Here’s an excerpt from a Beale Street Bears article about his shooting that breaks it down pretty simply:

"“In his first dozen games in the league, the former Michigan State big man went just 5-27 from deep. For a young player, this wasn’t unexpected. His second year was kicked off with an 0-6 shooting night. Both of those seasons saw him eventually settle in.”"

Look at any level of basketball that Jaren Jackson Jr. has played and you’ll find the same pattern. Poor shooting to kick off a season, followed by lights-out shooting from distance.

During his time at Michigan State, he began his first season by knocking down just 8 of his first 28 attempts from deep. That equates to under 29%. By the time he wrapped up his single season in East Lansing, the big man had improved that number to 39%.

In other words, be patient with JJJ’s offensive game. The shooting will come, and with it, the rest of his offense will become infinitely easier.