Jaren Jackson Jr. explained his defensive mindset

Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of the best defenders in the league when he is healthy. That is certified by his Defensive Player of the Year award from the 2022/23 season. At just 24 years old, he has led the NBA in blocks per game twice.

JJJ’s signature defensive style is more of a help-side defender because he has catlike reflexes and good anticipation for what the opponent is trying to do. That skill set is reserved for some of the best defenders, but Jackson’s best defensive trait is his approach to defense.

“Guys in this league are really talented. You just wanna make it hard on them. It’s simple: I don’t wanna get scored on, and I don’t want our team to get scored on,” Jackson said to GQ in 2022. “I really just want to win the game at all costs. I will do whatever. If that means putting me on a guard? Cool. If that means I have all these blocked shots? Cool. If anything, I’ll overhelp, and we’ll get burned like that.”

Jackson respects the opponents he plays against

Since he plays in the NBA, Jackson recognizes that every player he goes up against is one of the best in the world. Only a few hundred players are lucky enough to be part of an NBA team, and everyone is a special athlete. JJJ recognizes that, which is why he plays hard every game.

Thankfully for the Grizzlies, Jackson is one of the most competitive players in the league, so he always challenges his opponents. If they can get past him, fair enough, but he will always try to swat their shot attempts away from the rim.

JJJ can also put his head down and defend on the perimeter, as his long strides and defensive awareness help him match up against smaller and quicker players. That attitude makes him a reliable defender for Memphis, but the team wants to pair him with another big man who can take care of the physical bigs for Jackson to roam the paint.

There is always the next play for Jackson

Part of being a defender is accepting that the offensive player always has the advantage. However, that should motivate the defenders to do their best to beat the offensive player. The former DPOY operates with that mentality because he can accept his matchup scoring against him, but he will always do his best to make his matchup’s life harder.

Since he is only 24, Jackson still has a limitless ceiling. If he has already won the DPOY at a young age, it is fair to assume he will keep battling it out for that award. The Grizzlies have a good defensive anchor with Jackson; he is a natural defensive leader under Coach Taylor Jenkins.

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