NBA: Jaren Jackson Jr. pays tribute to his father with number 8 and prepares for new role in Memphis
Apr 18, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) spins to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Jaren Jackson Jr. has decided to mark his eighth NBA season with a powerful and symbolic gesture. The Memphis Grizzlies big man will abandon number 13, which he had worn since entering the league in 2018, to adopt number 8 in tribute to his father, Jaren Jackson Sr.
An emotional family tribute
This change holds a particularly personal meaning for the 2023 DPOY. Jaren Jackson Sr., a former Spurs player who won an NBA championship with San Antonio in 1999, had worn number 8 with the Clippers in 1992-1993, averaging 3.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1 assist over 34 games.
« Change doesn’t always come from something new. Sometimes it comes from remembrance, » Jackson Jr. wrote on his social media. This isn’t the first time the player has honored his father through his jersey number. At Michigan State University, he had already chosen number 2, which his father also wore during his professional career.
❽ 𝒢𝒾𝓋𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 time
ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ @jarenjacksonjr 8️⃣ ᴊᴇʀꜱᴇʏ ⤵️
🔹 ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘᴏꜱᴛ
🔹 ʀᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘᴏꜱᴛ
🔹 ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴜꜱ pic.twitter.com/9jXJ2nNhCL— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) August 11, 2025
A new beginning for the Grizzlies
This number change coincides with an important transition period for Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies. With a new five-year, $240 million contract in hand, the 25-year-old big man now assumes a leadership role within the Memphis roster, which is undergoing significant changes with the arrival of new head coach Tuomas Iisalo and the recent departure of Desmond Bane.
Last season, Jackson Jr. confirmed his status as a major player with averages of 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. These solid performances allow him to approach this new season with confidence as he looks to guide the team’s young players through these transitions.
For Jackson Jr., number 8 represents much more than just an aesthetic change: it’s a symbol of personal and professional transformation, marking his evolution into a leadership role in an increasingly competitive Western Conference.
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