The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t chase a blockbuster move this summer. No big-name free agents. No desperate trades for a quick fix. Instead, they made their stance clear: This is Ja Morant’s and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s team.
Morant enters his seventh season, Jackson Jr., his eighth. They’re not the “young core” anymore. They’re the veterans now — the leaders who must carry Memphis forward.
Jaren’s New Beginning
Jackson Jr. signed a new deal and marked the shift by swapping his jersey number from 13 to 8, a number his father once wore and one he says reflects where he’s at in life.
“It’s super personal to me. It’s super personal to my family. I’m connected with 8 in a real way. It reaches into the territory of new beginnings. It’s infinite. It’s just a good place to draw energy from.”
The change also signals his maturity. Early in his career, Jackson Jr. chose No. 13 as an act of defiance — a way to embrace the “unlucky” number and prove doubters wrong. Now, entering his eighth season, he says the switch comes from a different place.
“You want to be coming from an energy source that’s full love and eternal work. … It isn’t in spite of anyone anymore.”
It’s a sign that the 25-year-old big man isn’t just a defensive anchor any longer — he’s stepping into leadership, legacy, and responsibility as a veteran.
Ja’s Spotlight Returns
Meanwhile, Morant stepped back into the global spotlight as the face of Nike’s “Make Them Watch” tour, traveling the world to connect with fans and reassert his presence.
“Basketball is all about work and creativity — putting in that grind but also playing with your own style. I’m excited to share a piece of my journey with the next generation of hoopers around the world, and I also want to check how basketball is played in their own communities.”
For Morant, the tour was more than marketing. It was a reintroduction. The 26-year-old was once again the face of something big, reminding both Memphis and the league that he’s not just a highlight machine, but a player determined to lead.
Hard Goodbyes, Fresh Voices
The offseason wasn’t just about symbolism. It was about reality.
Trading Desmond Bane to Orlando was a gut punch. Fans loved his toughness, his consistency, his no-frills style. Losing him stung. But Memphis added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony (who was later waived), and valuable draft picks, gaining flexibility and options to support Morant and Jackson Jr. in the long run.
The same applied to the coaching change. Saying goodbye to Taylor Jenkins wasn’t about failure; it was about freshness. Tuomas Iisalo now steps in with the task of pushing this roster — and its stars — forward.
Quiet Moves, Loud Message
On the surface, Memphis had a quiet off-season. No splashy free agent. No big headlines. They stayed $52 million under the tax line and stockpiled draft assets. But the message was clear: The Grizzlies are betting everything on Morant and Jackson to elevate not just themselves, but everyone around them.
The Human Side
Fans don’t measure off-seasons in cap space or trade exceptions. They measure them in feelings. For Memphis, those feelings are complicated. Losing Bane wasn’t just about losing a scorer — it was about losing a player who felt like family. His toughness, his steadiness, his quiet confidence matched the city’s heartbeat. Seeing him in another jersey will sting for a long time.
But Memphis still has its stars. And now those stars aren’t “promising young players” anymore. They’re the veterans.
Morant has thrilled the city with jaw-dropping highlights, but the next chapter is about trust — being there, night after night, as the steady leader the team can follow. Jackson Jr.’s maturity, symbolized in his number change, shows he understands the responsibility of carrying more than just his own game.
This summer was a reminder: potential is no longer the story. Fulfillment is. And that shift — from what could be to what must be — is where the Grizzlies, and their fans, now live.
Final Word
The Grizzlies’ off-season wasn’t flashy. It was intentional.
Jackson Jr. marked a new chapter by choosing No. 8 — a number tied to his father’s legacy and to his own journey, showing how far he’s come from a defiant rookie into a mature leader. Morant reminded the world of his presence on Nike’s global stage, showing he’s ready to embrace the spotlight on his own terms.
Together, they are no longer the “promising young core.” They are the grown men, the veterans, the leaders Memphis is betting on to deliver.
It’s not about potential anymore. It’s about maturity, fulfillment, and proving they can take the Grizzlies to the promised land.
And Memphis is all in.
