Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. Could Return Against Pelicans

Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. could make his season debut tomorrow.

Jaren Jackson Jr. Might Return to Action Tomorrow

The Memphis Grizzlies might be getting much-needed reinforcement in tomorrow’s game against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Jaren Jackson Jr. might be returning to NBA action tomorrow, as he is now fully recovered from the foot surgery that he went through during the summer. This is a great development for the Grizzlies, considering that they have a couple of key cogs at injury bay right now, including rising star Desmond Bane and young versatile Ziare Williams.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is primed for an All-Star-worthy performance this season. He is coming off a very productive year in which he tallied 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and a league-best 2.3 blocks per contest. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team last season, an elite group that also includes Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics, Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (now with the Minnesota Timberwolves), and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

On top of his tremendous work on defense, Jackson will also be a big boost to the Grizzlies’ offense. He is a great lob recipient for Ja Morant’s passes, and Bane’s improvement on offense could open up tons of scoring opportunities for Jackson. Jackson is coming off a 31.9% performance from the three-point line (5.1 3P attempts), so that is a facet of his game that he needs to hone.

Jackson will be returning to a Memphis squad that has done an admirable job of holding the fort in his absence. They are currently sporting a 9-5 record, which is good for the 5th spot in the Western Conference standings. Morant and Bane have been awesome in the backcourt, and the team is also receiving significant contributions from the likes of Tyus Jones and Santi Aldama.