Jaren Jackson Jr. Reveals Special Reason He’s Changing to No. 8 Jersey

After a turbulent 12 months in Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. is able to flip the web page.

In case you’ve forgotten, the crew fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with 9 video games left, misplaced Ja Morant to damage, obtained swept within the first spherical by the Thunder and traded away Desmond Bane.

The 2-time All-Star signed a five-year, $240 million extension in July, locking him in because the Grizzlies’ cornerstone.

Now getting into his eighth season after being drafted fourth total in 2018, Jackson is the longest-tenured participant on the roster, and he’s making a symbolic change to mark the second.

He’ll be sporting No. 8 this season, a tribute to his father Jaren Jackson Sr., who spent 12 years within the NBA, and a nod to what he calls a “new beginnings” mindset.

“It’s tremendous private to me. It’s tremendous private to my household,” Jackson instructed NBC Information. “I’m related with 8 in an actual method. It reaches into the territory of latest beginnings. It’s infinite. It’s only a good place to attract vitality from.”

Jackson says the choice got here midseason, driving a stationary bike.

“I’ve worn eight earlier than – within the McDonald’s sport – and my dad has worn it. It gave a brand new beginnings form of strategy. My vitality supply of every little thing after I first obtained into the league was extra [about] proving folks flawed. Now it’s nearly self-discipline. Now it’s about habits. I feel that’s a way more sustainable vitality supply. I feel self-discipline is basically going to be the factor that takes you to that subsequent stage. I’m simply actually interested in that, and that’s a brand new starting in itself. It’s one thing me and my dad each share, and all of it suits.”

His father’s recommendation nonetheless drives him.

“‘The journey is success.’ It’s a phrase that’s on his enterprise card. As a child, I at all times thought it was simply so primary – I used to be too younger to grasp it. However now I get it. The journey is a hit in itself. It’s in regards to the course of.”

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