The Memphis Grizzlies have played 13 games this season, with Jaren Jackson Jr. playing in all of them. He is currently averaging his lowest point total since his injury-shortened 2020-21 season with 17.2 points and his lowest block average (1.4) since his rookie season back in the 2018-19 season.
However, he is shooting the highest field goal percentage of his career (50.9%) and the highest three-point percentage of his career (39.6%). So what's the problem? He is only averaging 12.2 shot attempts per game (lowest since 2020-21) and is only playing 28.4 minutes per game, mostly due to his continued insistence on being in foul trouble.
Jaren leads the NBA in total fouls through November 14th
The two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year winner is averaging a career-high 4.2 fouls per game this season, and currently leads the NBA with 55 total fouls. He has fouled out of three of the Grizzlies' 13 games played this season, has had at least five fouls in a game six times, and has had at least four fouls in a game nine times.
So, for nine of the team's 13 games, they have most likely had to play extended minutes without their star big man because of foul trouble. Jaren Jackson Jr. has a history of getting in foul trouble consistently, so his early start this season isn't too surprising. However, the fact that it's his eighth season is a discouraging sign for the team that just signed him to the highest-paid contract in the franchise's history this summer.
His inability to remain on the court due to foul trouble has hampered the team, as evidenced by their 4-9 start to the season. He has only scored over 20 points twice in their 13 games this season after back-to-back seasons of averaging over 22 points. All of his fouls aren't all a defensive stat either, as a good portion occur on the offensive side of the ball as well.
Saying Jaren Jackson Jr. has to clean up his act of accumulating fouls is an understatement for a team that is severely struggling at the moment. He is an integral part of the team's success, so his taking a step back after one of his best seasons of fouling a little less last season (career-low 3.5 average) is something he and the Grizzlies must figure out if they want to climb out of their early-season hole.