Where Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. landed on NBA's All-Defensive team
(This article was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. secured his third career All-Defensive team selection on May 22.
Jackson, 25, was selected as a second-team All-Defense member after a strong 2024-25 season. This was his first time being a member of the second team.
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Jackson was first named a member of the All-Defensive first team after the 2021-22 season. He followed up that campaign by winning the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2022-23 season and making the All-Defensive first team again.
Former Grizzlies wing Tony Allen holds the franchise record for most first-team All-Defensive finishes (three) and total All-Defensive finishes (six).
Memphis finished 10th in defensive rating this season. When Jackson was in the game, those numbers were even better. According to NBA stats, the Grizzlies' defensive rating was 4.2 points better when Jackson was on the floor.
As in recent years, the Grizzlies prided themselves on building a playmaking defense. Memphis finished third in blocks per game and seventh in steals.
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Jackson's hands were all over that success. In 74 games, Jackson averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per contest. He also ranked sixth in the NBA in stocks (steals and blocks combined) per game.
Memphis was one of the NBA's elite defenses in the first half of the season, but its numbers drastically slipped in the second half. In late February, Jackson was a slight favorite over Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Mobley went on to win the award, while Jackson finished seventh in voting.
Jackson received 21 votes for the first team and 65 second-team votes among a panel of 100 media members for the All-Defensive teams.
Another announcement with major implications for Jackson and the Grizzlies will take place May 23. The NBA will announce the three All-NBA teams.
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If Jackson is named as a member of an All-NBA team, he will become eligible for what is often referred to as the "supermax" extension. This would be a five-year contract that could potentially make Jackson the highest-paid player in NBA history.
If Jackson misses out on All-NBA he could still receive a contract extension this summer, but it would be capped at 10% above his current salary.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. makes All-Defensive team
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