All things considered, Jaren Jackson Jr. is doing pretty well right now.
Jackson, who obliterated the rim on a dunk during a win against the Lakers on Tuesday night, is in the midst of what could be a career-best season for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies (37-23) have the second-best record in the Western Conference, and both Jackson and his teammate Ja Morant were All-Stars.
While he missed the first portion of the season due to injury and then became the subject of the dumbest controversy of the season, Jackson (-200) is now the frontrunner for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
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Even though Morant has boldly claimed that the Grizzlies are the most hated team in the NBA, their team has also been one of the most exciting to watch so far this season.
Whether it’s because of on-court highlights or off-court drama, Memphis is thrilling. Jackson, without a doubt, plays an integral role in their identity and their success.
The big man recently caught up with For The Win via Zoom to discuss his season, his coaches, his teammates, his goals, and more.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
The Grizzlies play with so much confidence. Where does that come from?
JJJ: Internally, you’ve got to have it or you can’t play in Memphis. That’s what it is. That’s the culture we’ve built. That’s what we want to continue to build. You have to have a culture so that when people come in, they know where to fit in. You have to believe in yourself.
What makes your head coach, Taylor Jenkins, among the best in the NBA?
JJJ: His X’s and O’s, the way he reads the game, he’s the Coach of the Year. That’s my dog. He knows his players real well. He’s a player-first coach. That’s the biggest thing.
What are some of the things you’ve noticed about the guys that the Grizzlies draft?
JJJ: Toughness. Willingness to play together. They’re good people. At the end of the day, they’re good people. That’s the biggest key.
FTW: How do you describe the defensive identity of the Grizzlies?
JJJ: It’s been elite communication. Everybody moves on a string. We play hard. We play the same way. We know what the others are going to do. We hold it down. Dillon Brooks and I are both Defensive Player of the Year candidates. That gives us a lot of options.
What is it about Dillon Brooks that makes him the heart and soul of the team?
JJJ: He just represents how bad you’re supposed to want to win. We all want it real bad. But he’s the poster child for wanting it real bad. We love that. We feed off that. Talent isn’t going to win all the time. You’ve got to have guys who are willing to get dirty and willing to get down and win games.
How are you able to impact a defensive possession even without blocking a shot?
JJJ: When you block shots in the first quarter, they usually stop coming in the paint, which changes the offense and changes how they think about it and it messes with their game plan. That’s the whole goal. When they come in the paint, they’re worried about me, so then they might miss. That’s the whole game plan.
FTW: Who do you think are the best rim protectors of all time?
JJJ: Hakeem Olajuwon. Shaq and Kareem are up there. Bill Russell, long live. God rest his soul.
FTW: Do you believe you’ll be able to enter that pantheon when it is all said and done?
JJJ: That is the goal. We’ll see where it all shakes out because that’s crazy company to be in, but I’m trying to be there.
What are some of the other goals you want to accomplish?
JJJ: A championship. That’s all we want. We have everything else. We have a bunch of regular-season wins. Now we want a ring.
FTW: How important would it be for you to win with this group and not a trade?
JJJ: That is the goal: This group. You want to take your group to the NBA Finals. It is important.
How well would Ja Morant do if he changed his mind about entering the dunk contest?
JJJ: He don’t want to do it. But it would be all tens, all around. Of course, he would win it.
How big of an honor was it for you to represent Memphis at All-Star Weekend?
JJJ: It’s amazing. You can’t make that stuff up. They only write that in books. That’s the kind of stuff you dream about. I was able to take my people out and show them what All-Star was all about. I got to have fun and make memories and take a bunch of pictures and get everybody at the game and go crazy.
FTW: What can you tell me about your partnership with Starry?
JJJ: As you know, Starry hits different. It’s the official soft drink of the NBA so it’s making a lot of leaps. We’ve been doing a lot of great work together and we’re trying to do a lot more.
