NBA Player Jaren Jackson Jr. Is Full Of Surprises [2023 Update]

Jaren Jackson Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.

The full-blown shooting specialist, Jaren, has taken more three-point shots than anyone. The rising NBA star plays as a power forward/center for the Grizzlies.

He is the prodigy son of the 1999 NBA champion, Jaren Jackson Sr., which is unsurprising when one looks at his stats.

At 18, Jackson Jr. had already signed a rookie four-year contract with the Grizzlies in 2018 due to exceptional performance on the court.

The contract was then extended to a multi-year in 2021.

Find more about this NBA legend-in-making in this article. But, before that, go through these quick facts about Jaren Jackson Jr.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Family

Jaren Jackson Walter Jr. was born on September 15, 1999, to father Jaren Jackson Sr., a former basketball player and assistant coach, and mother Terri Jackson, the executive director of the WNBPA.

His attachment to basketball began the day he was born, as his father won the championship ring with the Spurs.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward/center lived his early life in Maryland and then in Indiana, where he went to Park Tudor School (High School) and La Lumiere School.

Later, JJJ went to Michigan State University, where his basketball career skyrocketed. 

Career

Jaren Jackson Jr. started playing basketball in his high school, Park Tudor, where he played varsity for three years.

His college career kick-started when he joined Michigan State University. Tom Izzo, the basketball coach, had a significant impact on him and his career as he kept it real with him.

While the other universities were flattered by his background and the way he played basketball, Michigan State, Tom Izzo, to be particular, made him clear about what he needed to improve and what skills he needed to keep up. 

He kept on setting record after record under the guidance of Izzo right after his debut, which he still considers to have been one of the most significant impacts on his life.

While he kept scoring point after point for Michigan State, by the end of the season, he was named:

• Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year
• Freshman of the Year
• Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team
• The All-Big Ten’s Third Team

Recent Career

The Grizzlies later selected Jackson with the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, which was the turning point for the player.

In 2023, he was named to his first All-Star game but was picked last from the reserves bunch.

The Grizzlies and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s game against the Lakers and Anthony Davis was the most anticipated match on March 1, 2023.

While Grizzlies tried to extend their lead, Jackson stole the spotlight in the fourth quarter.

However, when John Konchar missed a shot due to Davis’ presence, Jaren came flying in for an emphatic follow-up dunk over Davis.

Moreover, Jaren, with his teammate Dillon Brooks, led Grizzlies to a convincing victory against the Warriors on March 18.

On March 21, Jackson and his team Grizzlies won the game against Mavericks. He led the team with 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting.

National Team

Jackson assisted his team, the USA under-17 basketball team, scoring 2 points with 6 rebounds to win a gold medal.

He also performed well in the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon as a member of the USA Junior National Select Team, which reflected the impact of basketball he has had from the initial stage of his life.

Criticisms

The forward/center almost missed an entire 2020-2021 season with a torn meniscus, which caused him a startling drop-off as he was down to 31.4 percent on 5.3 attempts. 

People also criticize him for taking the coin-flip style in his plays.

At times he is the sole carrier of the team to its victory, and in some games, his efforts take more aggressive turns blocking the team from its success.

Jackson’s one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation often brings up questions about his values and discipline.

Critics also believe that as he belongs to a renowned basketball family, opportunities were served to him on a silver platter, because of which he is considered one of the greatest basketball players of his time.

But only true basketball enthusiasts (or any other field) know that hard work plays more than a 95% role in a person being recognized as a successful player, and some luck and effort.

Relationships

According to sources, the 24 year-old player is single and has indulged himself in any relationships.

According to his Instagram post, we can assume that Jackson is in no rush to settle down and raise a family. Instead, he focuses on his lucrative, money-making career.

Despite the eagle-eyed fans not giving up trying to figure out who the star has been dating, Jaren has permanently shut their expectations down with his constant focus and dedication to the game.

Fashion Interests

Besides his love and passion for basketball, Jaren is also a keen fashion enthusiast. 

He describes his style as random, loud, versatile, and bold. He loves experimenting with his style and lets his style speak for him. 

His stylist Toni Lowe is the artist Jaren considers a painter of his blank canvas.

Toni helps him keep up his love for fashion by encouraging him to choose what he wants to express and by bringing his imagination to reality. 

He is happy and comfortable wearing his clothes and tries to portray himself in his style.

Jackson is not shy and wears everything, including floral designs, vibrant colors, fur jackets, and animal prints which he pulls off quite astonishingly.

Fans can often see him rocking Balenciaga shirts and jackets in his interviews, so it’s easy for fans to assume that he is a Balenciaga boy.

The 2.08-meter-tall player is so interested in fashion that he has opened up about his plans and ideas about starting his brand and collaborating with others.

His brand’s central theme and concept will be letting people feel comfortable with how they look in what they wear. His aim is not to set a particular trend and make people follow it.

He does not believe in following trends. He believes in wearing what one feels comfortable in. 

Music Interests 

Jaren’s interview with GQ Sports shocked the fans as he revealed that he loves to rap and does it in his free time. He mentioned that he has been rapping for years.

In an interview, he revealed that he has created many songs in his home studio that may or may not have made it to the ears of the listeners.

Besides his exceptional performance on the court, he has a potential to shine as a good rapper.

Releasing his debut rap album, Suddenly, on February 18, 2022, the 24-year-old basketball player leaves us wondering and longing for his hidden talents yet to be unleashed.

The forward/center’s album has seven tracks he recorded in his home studio.

Net Worth

While teenagers in their eighteens are usually busy figuring out what they want to do, the Grizzlies player signed his four-year rookie contract worth $29.28 million in 2018. 

He signed the extended multi-year contract worth $105 million in 2021. His average yearly salary was $9.181 million in 2021.

The NBA star said in an interview with GQ sports that being a millionaire at 18 made him realize what it feels like to be an adult and the responsibilities that come with it.

At the age of 20, in the initial stage of playing for the Grizzlies, he earned more than his father had made in his entire career.

He has a net worth of $2-$5 million as of 2023. He is estimated to earn a base salary of $27 million annually in 2023.

Popularity Graph

Jaren Jackson Jr. is the son of one of the renowned former professional players who is an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.

The popularity graph shows the wavelength from the last twelve months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

What league does Jaren Jackson Jr. play in?

Jaren plays for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He has been with the same team since he was drafted in 2018 by them.

When is Jaren Jackson Jr. releasing his next rap album?

While the fans are still shocked with his debut album, he is working on his next and has opened up about releasing it in the next couple of years, as music is not only his sole focus right now.

How many times has Jaren Jackson Jr fouled out this year?

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