Jaren Jackson Jr. facts for kids
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Jackson with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022
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| No. 8 – Memphis Grizzlies | |
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| Power Forward / Center | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 15, 1999 Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 242 lb (110 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (2017–2018) |
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall |
| Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies | |
| Pro career | 2018–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2018–present | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jaren Walter Jackson Jr. (born September 15, 1999), often called "JJJ", is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Memphis Grizzlies in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
The Memphis Grizzlies chose Jaren as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. In 2023, he was picked for his first NBA All-Star team. That same season, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Jaren is famous for his amazing defense, especially for blocking shots. He led the league in blocks per game for two years in a row, in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Jaren Walter Jackson Jr. was born on September 15, 1999, in Plainfield, New Jersey.
Jaren started his high school basketball career at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis. He played on the varsity team for three years. During that time, he averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. Jaren helped Park Tudor win two state basketball championships. He then moved to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana for his final year of high school. There, he played alongside future NBA player Jordan Poole.
Becoming a Top Recruit
Experts thought Jaren was one of the best young players in the 2017 graduating class. Different scouting services ranked him very highly. For example, ESPN ranked him 8th nationally among all players. Being a "recruit" means that many colleges wanted him to play for their basketball team.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaren Jackson Jr. PF |
Carmel, IN | La Lumiere School
Park Tudor School |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 226 lb (103 kg) | Sep 15, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 93 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 6 247Sports: 7 ESPN: 8 | ||||||
Sources: |
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Many famous college basketball teams wanted Jaren to join them. These included Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Indiana. He was also invited to play in the McDonald's All-American Game in 2017. This game features the best high school basketball players in the country.
College Career at Michigan State
On September 15, 2016, Jaren Jackson Jr. announced he would play for Michigan State. He officially signed with the team on November 9, 2016.
Jaren played his first college game on November 10, 2017. He scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a big win. He quickly showed his skills, scoring 19 points in a game against Duke. Jaren also showed his defensive power by blocking 8 shots in a game against Rutgers.
By the end of his first college season, Jaren received many awards. He was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year. He also won Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was part of the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team. On April 2, 2018, Jaren decided to enter the 2018 NBA draft. Many people thought he would be one of the top players chosen.
Professional Career
Memphis Grizzlies (2018–present)
Starting in the NBA (2018–2021)
On June 21, 2018, the Memphis Grizzlies picked Jaren Jackson Jr. as the fourth overall player in the 2018 NBA draft. He signed his first professional contract with the Grizzlies on July 1, 2018.
In March 2019, Jaren had to stop playing for the rest of the season because of a deep bruise to his right thigh. On December 13, 2019, Jaren scored a career-high 43 points in a game. He also made 9 three-pointers, which tied a team record. In January 2020, he set a career-high with 7 blocks in a single game. Unfortunately, in August 2020, Jaren suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee. This injury meant he missed the rest of the 2019–20 season.
Jaren returned to play on April 21, 2021. He scored 15 points and had 4 blocks in his first game back. Two days later, he scored a season-high 23 points. The Grizzlies made it to the playoffs in 2021, their first time since 2017. Jaren scored a playoff career-high 21 points in a game against the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies lost that series in five games.
Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star (2021–2023)
On October 18, 2021, Jaren signed a big four-year contract extension with the Grizzlies. In January 2022, he scored 21 points and tied his career-high with 12 rebounds.
During the 2022 playoffs, Jaren set a Grizzlies team record with 7 blocks in a single playoff game. He helped the Grizzlies win their first-round series. In the next round, he scored a playoff career-high 33 points against the Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies lost that series. Jaren finished the 2021–22 season leading the entire NBA in blocks per game. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
On June 30, 2022, Jaren had surgery on his right foot. He missed the first 14 games of the 2022–23 season. He returned in November 2022, showing his defensive skills with 5 blocks in his first game back. In December, he set a new career-high with 8 blocks in a game. On January 5, 2023, he scored a season-high 31 points.
In February 2023, Jaren was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. On April 5, he scored a season-high 40 points. He finished the regular season leading the league in blocks for the second year in a row. In the 2023 playoffs, he scored 31 points in the first game. During the playoffs, Jaren was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the second time.
Recent Years (2025–present)
On June 30, 2025, Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a new five-year contract extension with the Grizzlies.
Playing for Team USA
Jaren was a member of the United States national team. He played in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His team finished fourth in that tournament.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Memphis | 58 | 56 | 26.1 | .506 | .359 | .766 | 4.7 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.4 | 13.8 |
| 2019–20 | Memphis | 57 | 57 | 28.5 | .469 | .394 | .747 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .7 | 1.6 | 17.4 |
| 2020–21 | Memphis | 11 | 4 | 23.5 | .424 | .283 | .833 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 14.4 |
| 2021–22 | Memphis | 78 | 78 | 27.3 | .415 | .319 | .823 | 5.8 | 1.1 | .9 | 2.3* | 16.3 |
| 2022–23 | Memphis | 63 | 63 | 28.4 | .506 | .355 | .788 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0* | 18.6 |
| 2023–24 | Memphis | 66 | 66 | 32.2 | .444 | .320 | .808 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 22.5 |
| 2024–25 | Memphis | 74 | 74 | 29.8 | .488 | .375 | .781 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 22.2 |
| Career | 407 | 398 | 28.6 | .466 | .351 | .792 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 18.5 | |
| All-Star | 2 | 0 | 8.0 | .556 | .000 | — | 1.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.0 | 5.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Memphis | 5 | 5 | 27.4 | .426 | .286 | .875 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 13.6 |
| 2022 | Memphis | 12 | 12 | 27.7 | .378 | .375 | .755 | 6.8 | .9 | .8 | 2.5 | 15.4 |
| 2023 | Memphis | 6 | 6 | 36.7 | .422 | .280 | .861 | 7.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 18.0 |
| 2025 | Memphis | 4 | 4 | 34.3 | .379 | .273 | .850 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 16.0 |
| Career | 27 | 27 | 30.6 | .396 | .331 | .816 | 6.5 | 1.1 | .9 | 1.9 | 15.7 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Michigan State | 33 | 32 | 22.2 | .520 | .396 | .797 | 5.8 | 1.2 | .6 | 3.2 | 11.3 |
Personal Life
Jaren's father, Jaren Jackson, was also a professional basketball player and coach. His mother, Terri Jackson, is an important leader for women's basketball players.
See also
In Spanish: Jaren Jackson Jr. para niños
- List of NBA annual blocks leaders
