The Memphis Grizzlies dominated the Western Conference last season despite being in the middle of a plethora of controversies.
A key reason behind the Grizzlies finishing as the second seed in the conference with a 51-31 record was Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defense.
Jackson’s efforts were rewarded by the league as he won the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
But one vital aspect where the 6’11” star needs to improve is his rebounding skills.
The 24-year-old is apparently aware of the flaw and vowed to improve his rebounding in the upcoming season via NBACentral on Twitter.
“(Rebounding) needs to be more of a staple of things I think about all the time…It’s on my mind, it’s on my brain,” Jackson Jr. said.
Jaren Jackson Jr. vows to improve his rebounding skills
“(Rebounding) needs to be more of a staple of things I think about all the time…It’s on my mind, it’s on my brain.”
(Via @DamichaelC ) pic.twitter.com/A79es9BZBn
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 6, 2023
Being almost 7’0″ tall and literally the best defender in the league last season, Jackson Jr. needs to work on his rebounding.
Last season, he averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
Jackson Jr. certainly failed to be a dominant force when rebounding the basketball, but he filled the void with another part of his game.
Jackson Jr. is arguably one of the shot blockers in the NBA right now.
In fact, the Grizzlies’ star led the league in blocks for two consecutive seasons.
While no one is denying his shot-blocking prowess, there’s more to defense than just swatting away opponents’ shots.
Being a good rebounder usually comes naturally to most big men in the league.
Considering Jackson Jr. is still only 24 years old and has already won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, the sky is the limit for him.
Can he finally become a good rebounder for the Grizzlies on both ends of the court? Only time will tell.
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