Jaren Jackson Jr. to miss rest of season with meniscus tear
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., seen here Nov. 19, 2019, will miss the rest of the season. (Brandon Dill/AP file)
Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., done for the season with a knee injury, made a prediction Tuesday.
“We all know we’re gonna look back on this year (and) laugh when we’re all thriving in 2021!” Jackson tweeted.
Memphis and its fans certainly hope the 20-year-old star is right.
On Tuesday, the team announced an MRI revealed a torn meniscus in Jackson’s left knee. Jackson was hurt during an unstable landing after making contact with a New Orleans player in Monday night’s 109-99 loss.
His recovery timeline is uncertain, and the NBA has not yet decided on a restart date for 2020-21.
“That comeback (is) gonna be crazy!” teammate Ja Morant tweeted to Jackson following the news.
Jackson is the third Grizzlies player to get injured during the bubble seeding games and practices in Orlando. Point guard Tyus Jones is still sidelined with right knee soreness, and wing Justise Winslow is also out for the rest of the season with a hip injury.
In his second season, Jackson was averaging 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-11 forward led the team in scoring since arriving in Orlando. Through three games, he poured in 76 points and knocked down 10 3-pointers.
Memphis selected Jackson, from Michigan State, fourth overall in the 2018 draft, and last season he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie team.
What does the injury mean right now?
The loss is clearly a crushing blow to Memphis’ playoff chances, especially after the team started 0-3 to begin its final playoff push.
The already shorthanded Grizzlies now are without their best 3-point shooter and forced to look to other options for the remaining five seeding games.
According to analytics website Cleaning the Glass, Jackson was being used on more than 21% of possessions while on the the floor. That usage rate ranks in the 86th percentile among players at his position.
Rookie forward Brandon Clarke, typically the first player off the bench, figures to be the temporary replacement for Jackson in the starting lineup.
Veterans Anthony Tolliver and Gorgui Dieng also will be frontcourt options for coach Taylor Jenkins to divide Jackson’s minutes.
What does the injury mean long term?
Sure, the Grizzlies want to make the playoffs this season, but Jackson’s health now becomes the organization’s top concern.
He is a cornerstone of the team’s #GrzNxtGen movement, and a player — alongside Morant — it hopes will play in Memphis for a long time.
Generally, the recovery time for an athlete following a meniscus surgery varies depending on the injury’s severity.
Meniscus tears are not uncommon for NBA players. Current players who have recovered from meniscus injuries include Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose, Eric Bledsoe and Zion Williamson.
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Memphis Grizzlies NBA Orlando bubble Jaren Jackson Jr.Drew Hill
Drew Hill covers the Memphis Grizzlies and is a top-10 APSE winner. He has worked throughout the South writing about college athletics before landing in Memphis.
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