{"id":154381,"date":"2025-08-14T11:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T15:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=154381"},"modified":"2025-08-14T11:46:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T15:46:52","slug":"grizzlies-star-embraces-fresh-start-and-new-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/14\/grizzlies-star-embraces-fresh-start-and-new-number\/","title":{"rendered":"Grizzlies Star Embraces Fresh Start and New Number"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> endured a challenging season and lived through a storm that tested every part of the franchise\u2019s foundation. With only nine games remaining in the regular season, Memphis made the bold decision to part ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins, a move that sent shockwaves across the league.<\/p>\n

Star guard Ja Morant<\/a> missed extended time due to injury, a blow that hampered the team\u2019s rhythm and playoff positioning. When they finally reached the postseason, the Grizzlies were swept in the first round by the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder. The team traded sharpshooter Desmond Bane just weeks later, signaling the beginning of a roster reshaping process.<\/p>\n

Amid the turbulence, one player remains a steady presence, and he is ready to lead the charge into a new era.<\/p>\n

Grizzlies Star Embraces Fresh Start and New Number<\/h2>\n

The Franchise Anchor<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Two-time NBA All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a> enters his eighth season with Memphis as the team\u2019s longest-tenured player. Drafted fourth overall in 2018, the 6-foot-11 power forward has developed into one of the league\u2019s premier two-way threats. His shot-blocking prowess earned him the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and his offensive versatility stretches defenses to the perimeter.<\/p>\n

In July, Jackson reaffirmed his commitment to Memphis by signing a five-year contract extension<\/a>. This move reflects his desire to be more than just a star player; he wants to be the heartbeat of the franchise.<\/p>\n

A New Number, A Deeper Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the Grizzlies take the floor this fall, fans will notice something different: Jackson will no longer wear his familiar No. 13. Instead, his jersey will bear the number 8, a change rooted in personal meaning.<\/p>\n

In a reel<\/a> shared on his social media, Jackson explained the change is a tribute to his father, former NBA guard Jaren Jackson Sr., who played 12 seasons in the league and won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.<\/p>\n

“Eight just means a new beginning \u2014 a fresh start, a fresh mindset \u2014 which I feel like I\u2019ve been on for a while, but I feel like this symbolizes it,” Jackson told NBC Sports<\/a>. “Practice what you preach. New beginnings. Born again. This is the path we\u2019re on, and it makes sense. I\u2019m going to year eight. My dad wore eight. It just kind of fits. It was always meant to be this, for real.”<\/p>\n

The change is not just sentimental; it symbolizes the fresh chapter Jackson is determined to write in Memphis.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With a new head coach set to implement fresh strategies and a reshaped roster hungry to prove itself, the Grizzlies are approaching the upcoming season as a reset, not a rebuild. Jackson will be central to that effort, both as a defensive anchor and a vocal leader in the locker room.<\/p>\n

Memphis’s road back to contention will be challenging. But with Jaren Jackson Jr. wearing a new number, honoring his roots, and carrying the lessons of a turbulent year, the Grizzlies\u2019 future feels a little more focused and a lot more determined.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Memphis Grizzlies endured a challenging season and lived through a storm that tested every part of the franchise\u2019s foundation. With only nine games remaining in the regular season, Memphis made the bold decision to part ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins, a move that sent shockwaves across the league. Star guard Ja Morant missed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5586,"featured_media":154705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,32,62],"tags":[1822,1948],"class_list":["post-154381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-grizzlies","category-nba","tag-ja-morant","tag-jaren-jackson-jr"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5586"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154381"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154704,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154381\/revisions\/154704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/154705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}