Bond between Grizzlies superstars and commitment to franchise on display

Two weeks before he celebrates his 25th birthday, Jaren Jackson Jr. took to social media to show appreciation for the only NBA city he's known.

"Been here since I was 18," Jackson Jr. wrote on X , adding an 'M' emoticon referencing Memphis.

JJJ arrived in Memphis in 2018 after the Grizzlies selected him fourth in the NBA draft. He has since evolved into an All-Star and one of the best defensive players in the league. In 2022, he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Upon seeing JJJ's tweet, the Grizzlies' other superstar, Ja Morant, responded with a clear message to his partner: "better not go nowhere either," Ja tweeted .

Jackson Jr. evidently agreed with Ja's request. In response, he posted a 'lock' emoji .

A tight bond, like Tatum and Brown

Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have one of the tightest bonds between any superstar duo in the league. Their relationship is similar to that of NBA champions Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum, who have been battling together since Tatum's rookie season.

Jackson Jr. is already a six-year veteran, but he is not even 25 years old. He entered the NBA one season before Morant. In Ja's rookie season, it quickly became clear that the two have great chemistry and are destined to be a dynamic duo.

They have played alongside each other for the past five seasons. While Jackson Jr. has an extra year of experience under the bag, Morant is unarguably the better player between the two.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies benefit the most when they are on the court together, as their game complements each other. Memphis fans want them to continue as teammates for years to come.

Entering their primes together

Last season, Jackson Jr. averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, as Ja was mostly unavailable. Morant put up 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game in only 25 appearances throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

Considering that the duo will be healthy and entering their prime, the Grizzlies can dominate in the upcoming 2024-25 season. And based on Ja and JJJ's show of affection on X, the Grizzlies fanbase should not be concerned about their star duo splitting up or leaving anytime soon.

Related: KG knew Jaren Jackson Jr. was special when he mentored him before the 2018 Draft