Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. climbing the rookie ladder

Despite the fact that their hot streak has come to a halt, the Memphis Grizzlies have seen satisfactory production from Jaren Jackson Jr., who is proving why he was a top-five pick.

The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the biggest surprises this year considering that they only won 22 games last season. With All-Star caliber point guard Mike Conley back in the mix, as well as continued depth and contributions from Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies were, at one recent point, tied for first in the West.

While they’ve slowed down quite a bit and currently sit at 13-9, they’ve gotten consistent production from Jaren Jackson Jr. when he’s been given proper time. An early-season injury to former starter JaMychal Green granted JJJ an opportunity to take on some big minutes, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Despite sharing a draft class with the likes of Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and a plethora of other talented players, Jackson has been among the most impressive first-year players and is climbing the rookie ladder.

Recent success

Despite starting the vast majority of games at the power forward slot for the Grizzlies, Jackson still gets some fairly inconsistent minutes. In 22 total games and 20 starts, the 19-year-old has only played an average of 25.7 minutes per contest, but he’s still producing at a high level regardless.

As of right now, the 6’11” forward is averaging a noteworthy 13.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Based on these stats alone, Jackson finds himself among the best in each category compared to the rest of his draft class, as he ranks first among rookies in blocks per game, third in field goal percentage, fourth in steals per game, fifth in points per game and sixth in rebounds.

As a rookie, it can be tough to play starter’s minutes each night, especially on an established team like the Memphis Grizzlies. As a result, Jackson Jr. has only played 30 or more minutes in just nine of 22 total games thus far.

Over that span, however, he’s given fans a glimpse at what he’s capable of doing for years to come. In the nine games that he’s played 30 minutes or more, the young forward has averaged an eye-catching 18.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.4 steals per game on 51.2 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent shooting beyond the arc.

The sample size is small and is boosted by his career-high 36-point performance against the Brooklyn Nets, but the point still remains; Jaren Jackson Jr. plays near All-Star level basketball when he’s consistently given starter’s minutes.

Jackson’s 36-point game was the highest-scoring performance of any rookie this season. Against Brooklyn, the young forward scored with ease from anywhere on the floor, was active on the glass and protected the rim. He also capped off the final seven points of regulation to erase a seven-point deficit and force overtime.

His skill level and impact at just 19 years old is noteworthy and we can expect to see consistent improvement if he’s given the chance to do so.

Great performance, but little chance at ROY

Failing to take home the Rookie of the Year award this season isn’t necessarily a knock on any of the players who are deserving due to the extremely deep pool of candidates. While it’s still early in the season and things are always subject to change, Jaren Jackson Jr. doesn’t project to take home the award.

His play has been stellar, but his minutes are fairly inconsistent at times and he’s playing on a playoff contender while a lot of other lottery picks are on struggling teams. As previously mentioned, he’s played 30 or more minutes in nine games so far, but has also played 20 or less in seven.

It’s unclear if his minutes will even out as the season progresses and he’s sharing the floor with two All-Star caliber players in Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Luka Doncic seems to have the award on lock and is consistently given the minutes to continue his dominance, while runner-ups like Deandre Ayton or Trae Young are in similar situations as well.

Jackson is a top-five, maybe even top-three, player in his class and is capitalizing on opportunities when they arise. While he may not win the award, he’s proving that his talent is right up there with the best.