In 2023-24, injuries and the resulting lack of stability crushed the Grizzlies, producing a 27-55 year after back-to-back 50-win seasons. A shoulder injury and 25-game suspension all but erased Ja Morant’s year. Desmond Bane missed half the games. Only Jackson and third-year forward Santi Aldama played in more than 60 games. Jackson, at least, made the most of it. “It was everything. It gave me a chance to be defended by teams in a specific way,” Jackson told The Athletic. “(Opposing teams) were throwing all types of crazy coverages and schemes out there. There were a lot of things I had to learn. It presented me with a new challenge. … Usually, my job was to just get it and score. But I had to learn to set up my teammates; make sure they were involved. That was a big step for me.” -via New York Times / April 16, 2025
