Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies has had a powerful season to date.
He led the NBA in blocked photographs per sport through the common season with 3.0, and it was the second yr in a row he was tops in that class.
Jackson was named to his first All-Star staff a number of months in the past, and on Monday, he gained the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award, making him the second-youngest participant to win that honor.
He was captured on video at house studying he had gained the award, and his response was each humble and healthful.
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s response to profitable the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award is so healthful 🥺🏆pic.twitter.com/QHDHMmmghj
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 17, 2023
Jackson, a 23-year-old native of New Jersey, is in his fifth professional season after being the fourth participant taken within the 2018 NBA Draft.
This season, he not solely performed a lot of stellar protection and offered rim safety for a robust Grizzlies staff, however he additionally expanded his sport by averaging 18.6 factors a sport whereas capturing 50.6 p.c from the sphere and 35.5 p.c from 3-point vary.
He was an enormous motive Memphis completed third in defensive score through the common season.
In Recreation 1 of their first-round playoff collection towards the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Jackson performed on the peak of his powers, not solely blocking two photographs but in addition scoring 31 factors on 13-of-21 capturing.
Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient, because the Grizzlies fell to LeBron James’ crew, 128-112.
They are going to probably be at a serious drawback shifting ahead, as Ja Morant, their franchise participant, is unlikely to play in Recreation 2 due to a hand damage he suffered on Sunday when he dedicated an offensive foul through the fourth quarter.
NEXT:
Jaren Jackson Jr. Makes Historical past With Right this moment’s Award Win