Top blocker in the league for two years and cornerstone of the defense of the Grizzlies since his arrival in the NBA (or almost), Jaren Jackson Jr. was promised to one day win the title of ” Defensive Player of the Year and his time has already come, for he has just been elected Defender of the Year 2023 !
Preferred to Brook Lopez and Evan Mobley, the two other finalists for this trophy, the interior of Memphis therefore succeeds Marcus Smart, crowned in 2022. At only 23 years old, he is none other than the second youngest DPOY in history, behind Dwight Howard, also 23 years old in 2009, but still a few days younger.
Named All-Star for the very first time this year, called up to appear in the “All-Defensive First Team” and on the verge of a selection in one of the three “All-NBA Teams” of the 2022/23 season, the sprawling Jaren Jackson Jr. (5.0 defensive rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.0 steals) has a monster influence on the Grizzlies’ performance on defense, despite still having a fairly high number of fouls.
The Grizzlies who, in the wake of their “unicorn” have established themselves, among other things, as the best team to lower their opponents’ shooting percentage, the 2nd best team in blocking, the 3rd best team in defensive evaluation , the 3rd best team in interception, the 4th best team in defensive rebound or the 5th best team in the number of points allowed in the paint.
Associated with Steven Adams then Xavier Tillman Sr. in the racket, “JJD” is thus no stranger to the great solidity of Memphis in this sector of play. It must be said that his mobility, his size, his arm length, his sense of timing and anticipation, as well as his power certainly make him one of the best defenders of his generation and it may well be that this first title of “Defensive Player of the Year” will not be the last.
In any case, we can expect him to present the “Hakeem Olajuwon trophy” to his audience on Wednesday evening, on the sidelines of Game 2 against the Lakers.
| Jaren Jackson, Jr. | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2018-19 | SAME | 58 | 26 | 50.6 | 35.9 | 76.6 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 13.8 |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 57 | 29 | 46.9 | 39.4 | 74.7 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 17.4 |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 11 | 24 | 42.4 | 28.3 | 83.3 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 14.4 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 78 | 27 | 41.5 | 31.9 | 82.3 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 16.3 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 63 | 28 | 50.6 | 35.5 | 78.8 | 1.7 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 18.6 |
| Total | 267 | 27 | 46.6 | 35.2 | 79.0 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 16.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
