The Memphis Grizzlies‘ goal with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. has to be an NBA Finals victory. An NBA Championship season is what every team roots for at the start of a rebuild, and the Grizzlies’ rebuild is ahead of schedule.
Right now, Memphis has some strong pieces in play. The obvious is Morant, who seems like a clear favorite to emerge as an NBA All-Star in 2021-22. Morant stepped up in a big way in the NBA Playoffs, averaging a new franchise playoff record.
The next promising player, among others, is Dillon Brooks, who also had a huge playoff series. In fact, if Morant hadn’t averaged 30.2 points per game, Brooks’ 25.8 points per contest would have been a new franchise playoff record.
But among all of the up-and-coming talent in Memphis, there is one player who is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle. No matter how talented you think he is, the fact that Jaren Jackson Jr. is intregal to the Grizzlies’ chance at an NBA Championship is undeniable.
Think about it — Memphis essentially reached the NBA Playoffs without Jackson. Even when the 6-11 forward returned from his meniscus injury, he never got back into a groove. The Grizz were punching above their weight, but with a healthy Jackson Jr., they could take the next step.
This was confirmed by Jackson’s dad, who goes by the same name, in an interview with USA Today Sports.
Jaren Jackson Sr. thinks his son has a “championship mentality” that could help the Grizz win at a high level
There’s nobody in the world who is more supportive than someone’s parents, at least for most people. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s parents are no exception.
In this case, Jackson Jr.’s dad, Jaren Jackson Sr., may have words that hold a little bit more weight than most NBA dads. Jackson Sr. played in the NBA from 1989-2002, carving out a long NBA career despite being a role player for the entirety of it. He is best known for his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
In 1999, Jackson Jr. won an NBA Championship with that Spurs team.
In an interview with USA Today Sports, Jackson Sr. had nothing but positive messages to send about his son. When asked about if and when his son will win an NBA Championship, the NBA forward’s dad said that he didn’t “want to put a timer on it,” elaborating by saying the following.
"“I think it’s sooner than expected. I would say he’s going to help the team win a championship. I think he’s a winner. He plays as if he’s trying to win every game that he’s going to help the team win a championship.”"
Jackson Sr. goes on to mention how his son is well-aware of his dad’s championship ring, which may inspire him to go out and get one for himself.
Hopefully, Jaren Jackson Sr. passed down his championship genetics to his son, who will look to find success in the NBA Playoffs down the road with one of the most talented young teams in the association.