Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Jaren Jackson Jr. has established himself as one of the NBA’s premier defensive forces, combining elite shot-blocking instincts with the mobility to disrupt opponents all over the floor. His ability to stretch the court offensively while anchoring an entire defense has made him one of the league’s most valuable two-way big men.

Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Jaren Jackson Jr.:

  • Full Name: Jaren Walter Jackson Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born September 15, 1999
  • Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters)
  • Weight: 242 pounds (110 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 5 inches (2.26 meters)
  • Standing Reach: 9 feet 2 inches (2.79 meters)
  • Vertical Leap: 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike Air Zoom GT Run, Nike Kobe 5 Protro, Nike KD 12, Nike KD 11
  • Number: 13 (current)
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School:
    • Park Tudor School, Indianapolis, Indiana
    • La Lumiere School, La Porte, Indiana
  • College: Michigan State University
  • NBA Draft: 2018, 1st round (4th overall) by the Memphis Grizzlies
  • Teams Played For:
    • Memphis Grizzlies (2018–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of now
  • Parents:  Jaren Jackson Sr. and Terri Jackson
  • Siblings: None
  • Kids: A daughter named Journee
  • Net Worth: Jaren Jackson Jr. Contract History

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s player archetype is a modern scoring big who anchors a defense without being confined to the paint on offense. Long, mobile, and unusually quick for his size, he changes games with his shot-blocking instincts, often erasing drives that appear open a split second earlier. At the other end, Memphis leans on him to stretch the floor, attack slower defenders off the dribble, and punish switches from the perimeter or mid-post. Foul trouble has occasionally interrupted his rhythm, but when he stays on the court he blends rim protection with legitimate shot creation in a way few frontcourt players can, giving the Grizzlies a unique focal point at both ends.

Scouting Report

Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of the rare bigs who can reshape a game from both ends without needing the offense to revolve around him. Defensively, everything starts there. What stands out is how comfortable he is defending in space before immediately recovering to protect the rim, which allows his team to be far more aggressive at the point of attack than most defenses can afford. He’ll step out to contain a ball handler, force the dribbler to hesitate, then cover enough ground to challenge the finish anyway. Just as impressive is his patience as the low man. He doesn’t chase every block. He waits for offensive players to expose the ball, and that’s why so many of his contests arrive unexpectedly late. The trade-off is that his aggression occasionally works against him. He can reach when verticality would be enough, or pick up unnecessary fouls trying to erase shots that were already difficult. Offensively, he’s much more than a floor-spacing big. His shooting forces opposing centers away from the basket, but I’ve always thought his most effective attacks come after a hard closeout. One or two long strides are often enough for him to get all the way to the rim, and because defenders have to respect the jumper, those driving lanes appear more often than they do for most players his size. He’s also capable of punishing smaller switches in the post, although he’s more effective attacking quickly than settling into extended back-to-the-basket possessions. His passing is straightforward rather than creative, generally making the next read instead of orchestrating the offense himself, which is perfectly suited to a lineup with established playmakers. Put him next to guards who collapse the defense and his ability to alternate between popping, rolling, or attacking rotating defenders becomes extremely difficult to scheme against. To me, there are elements of Rasheed Wallace in the blend of perimeter shooting and interior defense, while his ability to erase shots without sacrificing mobility also brings flashes of a young Serge Ibaka, albeit with a broader offensive package and far greater willingness to attack off the dribble.

Notes

Player Insights

Player Overview:
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been one of my favorite centers to watch since he entered the NBA. Early in his career, I was puzzled that Memphis was reluctant to play him more than 30 minutes a night, even in stretches when he appeared healthy. From my perspective, those minute restrictions raised questions about whether the organization had long-term concerns that weren’t publicly obvious. By the 2023-24 season, those concerns largely disappeared as Jackson Jr. comfortably averaged more than 30 minutes per game, which I took as a strong sign the Grizzlies were confident in his durability again. His impact has always started on the defensive end, where he ranks among the NBA’s premier shot-blockers and paint protectors. I also believed he was undervalued in the 2018 NBA Draft, and I still think being selected fourth overall was later than a player of his talent deserved.