The Memphis Grizzlies' eventful offseason has slowed down as an organization, but their stars continue to make positive headlines. Jaren Jackson Jr. agreed to a renegotiation and contract extension this offseason to remain with the franchise that drafted him for five additional seasons.
When the news announcement broke for his $240 million extension, it was followed by other news surrounding the All-Star big man. Jaren had surgery to repair a turf toe injury he suffered in a workout, and it will keep him out at least until the beginning of training camp. The other news that dropped was the changing of his jersey number from 13 to 8.
Number 13 was synonymous with Jackson Jr. as it was the only number he's had since entering the league. While the jersey number was the least important of the newscycle around Jaren Jackson Jr., many Grizzlies fans wondered what was the reasoning behind the jersey number change that came with the new contract.
Like Father Like Son
Jaren Jackson Jr. isn't the only person with his name that played in the NBA. His father, Jaren Jackson Sr., spent 13 seasons in the NBA from 1989-2002, including winning an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. After going undrafted in the 1989 NBA Draft, Jackson Sr. played for nine different teams during his 13 seasons, with his longest coming with the Spurs from 1997-2001.
One month had passed since speculation of Jaren Jackson Jr. changing his number became known, and he released a video on his Instagram page to confirm the change on August 8th. Grizzlies fans finally got this answer as Jackson Jr. decided to honor his father, Jackson Sr., with the jersey number 8.
During Jaren Jackson Jr.'s lone collegiate season at Michigan State, he wore jersey number 2, which was the same as Jackson Sr.'s number when he played for the San Antonio Spurs. Now, Jackson Jr. will wear the same jersey number his father wore during his lone season with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 1992-93 season.
Jaren Jackson Sr. has remained around the game of basketball since his playing career ended, including a stint as an assistant coach of the New York Knicks' G League affiliate, Westchester Knicks. Jackson Sr. and Jackson Jr. have a close relationship so it is no surprise that the younger Jaren Jackson decided to change jersey number after seven seasons in the NBA.
What took so long? Well, the Grizzlies had a player on the roster who had jersey number 8 nearly every season of Jackson Jr.'s career. Now a new era is on the horizon as Jackson Jr. will look to prove the Grizzlies right with his new contract extension alongside a jersey switch to make his father proud.