Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Dad recalls Spurs-Knicks NBA Finals

The latest second generation player has entered the league as Jaren Jackson Jr. looks to use the championship experience from his father to help blossom his career.

The New York Knicks haven’t been back to the NBA Finals since their surprising run during the lockout shortened 1998-99 season. The team was overmatched by a tall and talented San Antonio Spurs squad that consisted of perennial All-Star David Robinson and a young Tim Duncan.

A player who played a key role during that Spurs championship victory was Jaren Jackson, who hit a few key shots throughout the series. His scrappy attitude off the bench was an important factor in what would be his only championship as a player. He is passing down those same qualities to his son Jaren Jackson Jr., recent lottery pick of the Memphis Grizzlies.

During a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Jackson was vocal about preparing his son for the next level and becoming a champion like he did back in 1999.

"“I share a little bit. My stuff is on VHS, DVD. His stuff is not on none of that. It’s on his phone. Is he going to put in a tape or DVD of my old stuff? No. That’s what makes it kind of funny. He’s seen little pieces of what I did in the past. He appreciates the Spurs’ time, the championship that I was a part of. As long as he’s seen that stretch, that’s great. He can take that as a motivation for him, to maybe one day get one for himself.”"

"“He’s carving his own path, you know, although he’s following me a little bit. But throughout his growth, I’ve encouraged him to embrace the game, love it for what it’s worth. When you watch him, you see that he’s enjoying it, that it’s not such a grind. Don’t get me wrong. I worked hard in my career. Sometimes, it felt like flat-out work. It’s work here, too. But he’s out there having a lot of fun, smiling all over the place and being all jolly about playing.”"

Jackson played 13 seasons in the league with multiple teams but his experiences both good and bad will help his son on the journey. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s positive attitude was on full display throughout his process meeting with media members as a draft prospect and during Summer League. His friendly outlook on most things appearance-wise may come as a big difference from his father, but his play shows all the aggression needed to compete in the league.

The former Michigan State star made an immediate impact during his summer debut with 29 points in Sacramento. The ability to shoot from the outside opens up another weapon for the Grizzlies, who were mostly known for their low-post, grind-it-out style. He finished Summer League in Las Vegas averaging 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

For Knicks fans, this is another reminder that it has been too long since the team’s last attempt at a championship. It is also becoming a fairytale motivational story for second generation NBA players.