Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. suffered a Grade 2 left ankle sprain during Monday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He sustained the injury while attempting to block Dyson Daniels‘ shot in the first quarter. The Grizzlies announced Jackson is week-to-week, leaving his status uncertain for the final stretch of the season. A Grade 2 ankle sprain typically requires 4 to 6 weeks of recovery for NBA players. This timeline suggests Jackson may miss most or all of the remaining 21 regular season games. His absence not only hurts Memphis’ playoff hopes but also severely impacts his candidacy for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. In trying to stop Daniels, Jackson Jr has handed the DPOY award to Evan Mobley. Jackson Jr was a –125 favorite to win the award briefly prior to his injury.
To Stop Dyson Daniels, Jaren Jackson Jr Has Handed The DPOY To Evan Mobley
Jackson has played 59 games and needs six more to reach the league’s 65-game minimum for awards eligibility. If his recovery takes the full six weeks, he won’t return in time to qualify. This would effectively remove him from the DPOY race, opening the door for Mobley. Jackson could return earlier if he uses painkillers. That won’t guarantee a win for him though as he would, understandably, have limited impact due to discomfort and limited movement. It’s a risky gamble also as it could aggravate the injury.
The Defensive Player of the Year Race Without Jackson
Historically, DPOY winners anchor a top-3 defense. Since 2007, every winner has played for a team with a top-5 defensive rating. Before Jackson’s injury, the DPOY race had four leading candidates:
Evan Mobley – Anchoring the Cleveland Cavaliers’ seventh-ranked defense, averaging 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks.
Jaren Jackson Jr. – Leading the Grizzlies’ eleventh-ranked defense, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks. One of only two players to average at least a steal and 1.5 blocks per game this season.
Dyson Daniels – Averaging 3.0 steals per game, the highest since Alvin Robertson in 1990-91.
Luguentz Dort – The best defender on the league’s top defensive team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Daniels has been such a force on the defensive end that he makes the strongest case we have seen for the award by a guard since Marcus Smart and Gary Payton. He’s the best on-ball defender in the league and has defensive highlights to emphasize his impact. However, Daniels’ team is just outside the bottom 10 in defensive rating.
Dort has a strong case as the best defender on the league’s No. 1 defense, but Mobley’s individual impact stands out. He just won his second Defensive Player of the Month award, making him the first player to do so in NBA history. When Mobley is on the floor, the team’s a top-three defense (107.0 defensive rating) in the league but when he sits, they become a middle-of-the-pack defense (112.0).
Mobley Passes Jackson Jr as the DPOY Favorite
Jackson’s injury gives Mobley a clear path to winning his first DPOY. He has the numbers, the team success, and now, the momentum. With Jackson sidelined, Mobley can strengthen his case over the final stretch of the season.
The irony? Jackson’s injury happened while trying to stop Daniels, another DPOY candidate. That single moment may have cost him the award and handed it to Mobley instead.
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