Jaren Jackson Jr. lost the perfect veteran mentor when the Memphis Grizzlies traded Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors in February. If the pair's interaction on Thursday is any indication, though, their relationship seems poised to continue for years to come regardless.

During the Raptors' NBA Finals media availability at Oracle Arena, Gasol was surprised by Jackson when he was chatting with reporters courtside.

Jackson, the No. 4 overall pick of last year's draft, immediately flashed two-way star potential upon his NBA debut, a season that culminated in him being named First Team All-Rookie. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 26.1 minutes per game, showing off rare versatility on both ends of the floor for a near seven-footer. The Michigan State product's rookie campaign was cut short in late February, when a nagging quad injury sidelined him for the season's remainder.

In December, Gasol, approximately six weeks before his tenure in Memphis came to a close, told Ben Golliver of the Washington Post that he feels a sense of “responsibility” to the Grizzlies' rising-star big man.

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“I feel a responsibility to him, no doubt,” he said of Jackson. “I’ve invested most of my life into this franchise and they’ve invested in me. When you have a player with this potential, you must build him the right way. Show him how to prepare for games and let him know there will be no days off.”

Marc Gasol scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished four assists in Toronto's Game 3 victory over the short-handed Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.