Jaren Jackson Jr. is still ‘stepping up’ for 2026

Fans should be forgiven for asking if the year is over yet, even though there’s still one New Year’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Beale Street won’t see winning basketball in 2025; that much was insured by another loss of Washington Wizards CJ McCollum in eight days. I Morantsecond game back (16th overall this season) marred by another frustrating setback for constantly regrouping Memphis Grizzlies. Despite that Jaren Jackson Jrreturn to All-Star form, Tuomas IisaloThe team is 15-17 heading into the New Year, facing a steep climb back to respectability.

Jackson Jr. (30 games played) merely sighed when asked if the early-season slowdown deserved most of the blame for the losing record.

“Maybe, I mean, shoot. I had surgery and was on the mend for most of the summer,” Jackson Jr. told ClutchPoints. “Whatever you want to categorize it as, call it a boost. I just kind of looked at wherever I was, I wanted to be available to start the year. So even if I wasn’t ‘boosted,’ I’d still want to play, so maybe (it’s a factor).”

The confession emphasizes the reality that it is The Grizzlies have been navigating it all season. His determination to suit up from opening night meant shaking off the rust on the fly as the team dealt with a congested injury report.

I Morant has just returned; Zach Edey will be out for a few more weeks. Still, Jackson Jr. is getting into a groove in Iisal’s offense as the rotation continues to change.

“I feel like I know the balance of it for sure,” Jackson Jr. said. “You have to shoot when you’re open; you have to attack if you can attack.”

Jackson Jr. is averaging 24 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.1% from three-point range in the last seven games. The 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year also had 4.4 steals/blocks over the past two weeks. Sometimes, however, Jackson Jr. is too aggressive.

“I had two offensive fouls (in the first loss to the Wizards),” Jackson Jr. noted. “So I was trying to do some things, the foul over the back, those were valid calls. I can’t really hate.”

How quickly the Grizzlies can find a healthy balance in 2026 will define the rest of the season. Losses to teams like the Wizards highlight just how thin the margin has become, but Jaren Jackson Jr.’s enduring two-way excellence. over the past two weeks has offered Tuomas Iisalu a clear way forward.