The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled mightily throughout the 2023-24 campaign, as they find themselves sporting a 19-36 record with just one game to go before All-Star Weekend. That said, despite their shortcomings, they still boast a rather intriguing and, in many ways, highly talented roster.
With Ja Morant and Desmond Bane both sidelined due to injury, without question, the best player Taylor Jenkins currently has rolling out in the lineup on a nightly basis is power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., a proven All-Star who, throughout this gap season, has managed to improve his offensive skill-set to become more of an all-around player rather than just a defensive enforcer.
His development has been well documented throughout the year and, in turn, has caught ample praise from fans, media pundits, and his coaching staff alike.
Ahead of Thursday's outing against Milwaukee, Locked on Grizzlies host Joe Mullinax went as far as to make a bold comparison between Jackson and one of the game's greatest players of all time, likening him to Bucks superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Grizzlies big Jaren Jackson Jr. compared to Giannis Antetokounmpo
"I'd love to have Giannis on my team and Memphis kind of does. In the past I've said it and others have certainly said it: Jaren Jackson Jr. has the frame, he has the skill set. He could be like a Bizarro Giannis at times [or] a Giannis very-lite. I really look forward to going into this game. Anytime those two share the floor. Anytime they can make it seem like a Spiderman meme, where Jaren shows that he is in that same realm."Joe Mullinax
As noted, Jackson has spent a majority of this season honing his craft as an offensive player, in large part due to injuries around him. With this, he's become a much more willing ball handler and initiator and has seen an uptick in shot attempts by over four per game compared to last season.
watch trip cook🥵 @jarenjacksonjr pic.twitter.com/2s1bgb4JT3
— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) February 13, 2024
As things currently stand, the 24-year-old finds himself registering a career-high in points per game (22.3) while also dropping in 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
Though saying Jackson is equal to or better than the two-time league MVP would be a rather vast exaggeration, something Mullinax would continue on to admit during the episode, he would wrap up the segment by saying "in terms of his frame and the way that he can move and impact basketball games on both the offensive and defensive end" the two are arguably "in the same universe."
At the very least, this is a major compliment for the Grizzlies big and Thursday's first half finale against Milwaukee will serve as stage for him to prove that he's in this same so-called universe as one of the league's top-75 players of all time.