How Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Fall Process explains Cam Spencer’s success

The difference between struggling through a slump and breaking through often comes down to unwavering dedication to the craft. Jaren Jackson Jr. knows this truth intimately, and he sees it the perfect embodiment in Cam Spencer’s recording. When asked about the hard work, Jackson Jr. offered a knowing smile and some clear wisdom. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t fall the way you want it to, though The Memphis Grizzlies will continue to grind.

Jackson Jr., who posted a near career slump until Nov. 15, reflected on his recent holiday turnaround by focusing on the unglamorous side of basketball which fans rarely see.

“I don’t know, sometimes it just goes that way,” Jackson Jr. joked. “You’ve got to commit, you’ve got to buy in. You’ve got to be out here every day working on your game and be ready to play. That’s a really important thing, to rest and do all the little things, so I’m ready to come out here and perform.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. he didn’t just outline a personal routine. The two-time All-Star inadvertently explained why Cam Spencer has become one of the game’s most reliable shooters.

“It’s special. It’s good to see. We see it in practice all the time,” Jackson Jr. said. “When (Spencer) shoots, it’s always early. He shoots the gun, he shoots by himself. He doesn’t even need a rebound. Sometimes he’s there at night. Sometimes he’s there when we don’t want him there. Honestly, people stay trying to get him out (of the practice room).”

This mindset of focusing on day-to-day work, recovery, and the small details reveals why players who embrace it achieve sustained excellence, even while avoiding extended slumps. Success is not defined by never being down; it is defined by having a non-negotiable process for navigating through one.

Cam Spencer exemplifies this perfectly, standing out as one of the best shooters on the planet with no signs of decline in sight. Shooting a 51.5% field goal percentage and a 71.6% true shooting percentage, Spencer averaged 12 points and four assists through December 17th.

“That’s what you get when you put in that kind of work,” Jackson Jr. noted. “He’s doing everything right now. I’m proud of him.”

Ultimately, the journey of these two teammates confirms that professional excellence is less about never giving up and more about unwavering commitment to a proven process. Jackson Jr.’s declining stats didn’t blind him to the truth; it may have made him its most articulate spokesman. In praising Spencer, he points to a timeless driver of improvement: dedication so deep it becomes routine, work so consistent it borders on awkward, and the belief that these lonely hours will always, eventually, translate when the lights are at their brightest.

The rise of Cam Spencer is a reward for that faith. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s path to dominance was guided by that. Their parallel stories, one of ascent and one of rediscovery, were both fueled by the same pace that lifted the Grizzlies up the Western Conference standings.