MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 29: Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on December 29, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Jaren Jackson Jr. is the prototypical unicorn defender
All that said, for the first time in his injury-marred, four-year career, Jackson has been a largely positive force for the surging Grizzlies. Lineups with Jackson have outscored opponents by +5.8 points per 100 possessions, a very good figure.
And that number swells to +8.5 points per 100 even without Ja Morant! The primary reason behind this has been his defensive improvement.
Jackson Jr.’s on/off stats show that the Grizzlies defense gives up -4.4 points fewer per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor. His ability to contest shots at the rim and on the perimeter makes him a true unicorn defender.
The video below highlights everything that makes Jackson a special defender – all in one possession!
He deters Fred VanVleet on the drive, blocks a slashing Achiuwa, closes out hard (but in control) on Gary Trent Jr., and blocks him from behind, as well.
The advanced stats love him even more than the traditional box score. Estimated Plus/Minus puts JJJ in the 96th percentile of defenders in the league. BBall-Index’s D-LEBRON metric has him as the seventh-most impactful defender league-wide. Basketball-Reference gives him the ninth-most Defensive Win Shares in the league.
He holds opposing players to just 49.3 percent shooting within six feet of the basket, -14.6% worse than expected. That’s a bigger difference than Rudy Gobert or Jarrett Allen can claim.
Memphis Grizzlies are an emerging force in the West. Lineups with Jackson have performed excellently (even without Ja Morant!). How is this possible?</p>
<p>Let’s quantify the shooting part. According to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4439#tab-shooting_accuracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleaning the Glass</a>, Jackson is below the median for big men in accuracy at the rim, from midrange, and from the three-point line.</p>
<h2>Jaren Jackson Jr. and his offensive struggles haven’t hurt the Memphis Grizzlies</h2>
<p>After shooting 39 percent from three on 6.5 (often audacious) attempts per game in 2019-2020, Jackson missed nearly the entirety of the 2020-2021 season with a torn meniscus. He’s now down to 31.4 percent on 5.3 attempts – a startling drop-off.</p>
<p>Despite that, JJJ is playing the best basketball of his career. He’s posting career-highs in rebounds (5.8 per game), blocks (2.3 per game), and free throws drawn (4.3 per game). And most importantly, a career-low in fouls (3.4 per game).</p>
<p>His increased comfort with the ball in his hands has resulted in much more attacking. Jackson is attempting <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=DRIVES&dir=1%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">5.7 drives per game</a> this year – a massive increase from 3.9 two years ago.</p>
<p>He’s in the same ballpark as perimeter players like Alec Burks, De’Andre Hunter, and Klay Thompson. Jackson has become very comfortable getting to the floater area, particularly on the right side.</p>
<p>Jackson’s shot has always been unorthodox, but he was a solid-to-great shooter his first two years in the league. It’s reasonable to expect he’ll improve from distance, and his confidence has never wavered. What’s more concerning offensively is the lack of playmaking.</p>
<p>JJJ averages just 1.2 assists per 1.7 turnovers for his career, and these numbers are trending in the wrong direction. He’ll never be a point-forward, and that’s fine, but he needs to do better making the extra pass to turn an okay shot for him into a good one for someone else.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Jackson's incredible defensive stats </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441597" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1362095893.jpeg" alt="The insane impact of Jaren Jackson Jr. for the Memphis Grizzlies" width="1600" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362095893.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362095893-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 29: Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on December 29, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jaren Jackson Jr. is the prototypical unicorn defender</h2>
<p>All that said, for the first time in his injury-marred, four-year career, Jackson has been a largely positive force for the surging Grizzlies. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4439/lineups#tab-four_factors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lineups with Jackson have outscored opponents</a> by +5.8 points per 100 possessions, a very good figure.</p>
<p>And that number swells to +8.5 points per 100 even without Ja Morant! The primary reason behind this has been his defensive improvement.</p>
<p>Jackson Jr.’s on/off stats show that the Grizzlies defense <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4439/onoff#tab-team_efficiency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gives up -4.4 points fewer</a> per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor. His ability to contest shots at the rim and on the perimeter makes him a true unicorn defender.</p>
<p>The video below highlights everything that makes Jackson a special defender – all in one possession!</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jaren Jackson Jr. is playing crucial defense for the Grizzlies! <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBACourtOptix?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#NBACourtOptix</a> powered by Microsoft Azure showcases how JJJ is affecting shots during Memphis’ incredible run. </p>
<p>Tune-in to CHI-MEM at 3:30pm/et on TNT! <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://t.co/hEz5tuKAwI">pic.twitter.com/hEz5tuKAwI
<p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1483171492338843653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 17, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>He deters Fred VanVleet on the drive, blocks a slashing Achiuwa, closes out hard (but in control) on Gary Trent Jr., and blocks <em>him</em> from behind, as well.</p>
<p>The advanced stats love him even more than the traditional box score. Estimated Plus/Minus puts JJJ in the 96th percentile of defenders in the league. BBall-Index’s D-LEBRON metric has him as the seventh-most impactful defender league-wide. Basketball-Reference gives him the ninth-most Defensive Win Shares in the league.</p>
<p>He holds opposing players to just<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense-dash-lt6/?sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=-1&CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 49.3 percent shooting within six feet</a> of the basket, -14.6% worse than expected. That’s a bigger difference than Rudy Gobert or Jarrett Allen can claim.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Room to grow </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441598" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1366296258.jpeg" alt="The insane impact of Jaren Jackson Jr. for the Memphis Grizzlies" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366296258.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366296258-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DENVER, CO – JANUARY 21: Jaren Jackson Jr. looks on against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on January 21, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jaren Jackson Jr. has some flaws, but still has a ton of room to improve, too</h2>
<p>Jackson’s particularly excellent at lurking in the paint as a help defender, and coach Taylor Jenkins has permitted him to fly far from his man in order to challenge attackers.</p>
<p>On switches, Jaren does a remarkable job of keeping his kraken-like arms high in the air while sliding with ballhandlers, something that very few big men are capable of doing. It’s a key part of his success. A surprising number of his blocks come with him barely leaving the ground.</p>
<p>Jackson’s lateral movement is excellent for a man his size, and it allows the Memphis Grizzlies to play him at power forward next to Steven Adams. Adams is a perfect complement. He’s able to handle bigger post players and deliver punishing box-outs to supplement Jackson’s still-developing rebounding abilities.</p>
<p>The scary part is that Jackson’s defense can still get better. He still tends to pop out of his defensive stance on the perimeter at weird times, leaving him vulnerable to blow-bys. And he still fouls a little too often whilst chasing blocks. As mentioned above, his rebounding still depends on athleticism, not on fundamentals.</p>
<p>But much of that can be taught, and it’s clear that Jackson has an appetite to improve. He’s gotten better every year. If his shot returns to respectable levels, then the Memphis Grizzlies might have the best young core in the NBA.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 key reasons why Ja Morant could win MVP this season" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/19/ja-morant-mvp/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/03/jaren-jackson-jr-memphis-grizzlies/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/19/ja-morant-mvp/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 key reasons why Ja Morant could win MVP this season </a> </div>
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