Projecting the 20 most promising young duos in the NBA

9 of 21

(Photo by Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

13. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)

The Memphis Grizzlies are rebuilding after shipping off the last vestiges of the “Grit ‘N Grind” era — trading veterans Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol in the last few months — and the headliners of the franchise’s new direction are Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Morant, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, is a 20-year-old point guard who put himself on the map last season with a monster run at Murray State. He averaged 24.5 points and 10.0 assists per game as a sophomore, leading the Racers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after putting up a triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists) in their first-round upset of Marquette.

Ja Morant Can Help Jaren Jackson Jr.—and the Grizzlies—Reach New Heights https://t.co/u52lJ1P7qo via @ringer
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 15, 2019

Jackson is a 19-year-old power forward with NBA bloodlines — his father was a 12-year journeyman who won a championship with the 1999 San Antonio Spurs — who was voted All-Rookie First Team last season after averaging 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

With low expectations at the moment, Morant and Jackson should have the time and space to go through the growing pains and develop into a nice tandem that the Grizzlies can build around.