For the second straight year, the Memphis Grizzlies will pick in the top four of the NBA Draft. After taking former Michigan State standout Jaren Jackson Jr. with the fourth pick in 2018, the Grizzlies have the No. 2 overall pick next week in Brooklyn.
Jackson showed flashes of brilliance throughout his rookie season. He averaged 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and close to 36 percent from beyond the arc on 2.4 attempts per game.
That hardly speaks to Jackson's potential, however. He scored 20 or more points in 11 of his 58 appearances, including a 36-point performance agains the Nets in November that also featured a game-winning shot.
His blend of size and quickness paired with his ability to stretch the floor make Jackson a potential star, especially considering his defensive prowess. Jackson rates as an excellent rim protector, averaging a per-36 line of nearly two blocks per game.
As Jackson looks to recover from a thigh injury that ultimately ended his season, new Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins is hoping that whomever Memphis selects with the No. 2 pick will push Jackson to new heights.
Jenkins told Omari Sankofa II of The Athletic:
“You can look at it from an individual scope and lens but even from our style of play and from a holistic team approach, we want to get the greatest competitor because I think for Jaren to get to the next level and continue to grow year-after-year, he’s going to need teammates, or a teammate with the No. 2 pick, that’s going to challenge him to be the best competitor, be the most unselfish teammate,” Jenkins said. “Is that him helping whoever we’re going to draft this year, that individual helping him. Skill sets and names, all of that will come in due time. But at the end of the day, we’re going to find the best person for the Grizzlies and obviously, that’ll have a tremendous impact on Jaren’s growth and success.”
The Grizzlies are likely to take Murray State point guard Ja Morant, who might be the perfect pure point guard to compliment Jackson's budding skill set.
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