NBA
JJ
#20

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Forward · Utah Jazz · 6'10", 242 lb · Born Sep 15, 1999 · Plainfield, New Jersey · Drafted 4th overall, 2018
2023 DPOY2× All-Star2× Blocks leaderBlock Panther
NBAUtah JazzForwards
Compare:vs Baileyvs Sensabaughvs Colliervs Nurkicvs Georgevs Filipowski
In short

Jaren Jackson Jr. is a 6-foot-10 defensive anchor and stretch big — the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-Star, and a two-time blocks leader. Drafted 4th in 2018 out of Michigan State, 'JJJ' built his career with Memphis, pairing elite rim protection with three-point range, before this move to the Utah Jazz. He is the son of former NBA player Jaren Jackson Sr.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceFri, Nov 13
vsWashington WizardsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
19.2
range 16.3–22.1
Line 19
52%
to go over
Team win
62%
114–112
Poi 19.2 Lean overReb 5.8 Lean underAss 1.9 Lean underPRA 26.9 Lean under
Likely on himAlex Sarr· 83 Rim protectionStrong defender
15+ pts90%20+ pts40%25+ pts4%

Model lines Jr. at 19.2 pts (range 16.3–22.1) vs a 19 line — a lean to clear it (52%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
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The Jr. Story — narrated
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A 6-foot-10 defensive anchor and stretch big — the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.

Son of an NBA player, JJJ was a Big Ten defensive star at Michigan State before Memphis drafted him 4th in 2018.

🏫 Michigan State · 4th, 2018Plainfield, NJ

He became a two-time blocks leader and All-Defensive First Team anchor.

2× blocks leaderAll-Defensive

He won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year and made two All-Star teams.

🏆 2023 DPOY2× All-Star

A modern two-way big, he brought his rim protection and range to Utah.

Traded to UTAStretch big
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
19.2
2025-26
RPG
5.8
per game
APG
1.9
per game
FG%
.475
.359 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A 6-foot-10 defensive anchor and stretch big — the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, 'The Block Panther.'

Jaren Jackson Jr. was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, the son of former NBA player Jaren Jackson Sr., and was Big Ten Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year at Michigan State before Memphis drafted him 4th in 2018. He became one of the league's premier two-way big men.

A two-time blocks leader and two-time All-Defensive First Team pick, he won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award and made two All-Star teams (2023, 2025), pairing elite rim protection with three-point range. He carries that modern two-way profile to Utah after his entire career with the Grizzlies.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Jackson comes from a basketball family with deep NBA ties — his father, Jaren Sr., was an NBA player and champion, and his mother, Terri, is the executive director of the WNBA players' union. That pedigree shaped a cerebral, professional approach and a player comfortable at the intersection of basketball and its business.

His on-court identity is elite, modern two-way big play — a rim protector who leads the league in blocks and defends the perimeter, paired with a stretch-scoring game and three-point range. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is a genuine defensive anchor and floor-spacing scorer, exactly the kind of two-way center a team builds its defense around.

PERSONALITY

The person

A modern two-way big — elite rim protection, perimeter defense, and stretch scoring.

Defensive anchor2023 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time blocks leader.
Stretch scorerPairs rim protection with three-point range.
Basketball pedigreeSon of an NBA champion and a players'-union leader.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Two-Way Stretch Big · DPOY
Temperament
Alpha
Leadership
66/100
Scoring72
Playmaking40
Rebounding64
Perimeter D80
Rim protection47
Spacing64
Athleticism70
Clutch68
Elite shot-blockerStretch scoringFormer DPOY
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

An elite two-way big

Jackson's value is modern, two-way center play — a rim protector who leads the league in blocks (twice) and defends the perimeter, paired with a stretch-scoring game and three-point range that spaces the floor. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is a genuine defensive anchor around whom a team can build an elite defense, while still scoring 18-plus a game.

Anchoring a defense

As a 6-foot-10 stretch big with elite shot-blocking and switchability, Jackson gives Utah a franchise-caliber defensive centerpiece and floor-spacing scorer. His foul rate has historically been the main critique, but his defensive impact and offensive versatility make him one of the most valuable two-way bigs in the league, health permitting.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-264530.719.25.81.9.475.359

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2023NBA Defensive Player of the Year
BlocksTwo-time NBA blocks leader (2022, 2023) and two-time All-Defensive First Team
All-StarTwo-time All-Star (2023, 2025)

Hardware

1×
Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
2×
NBA All-Star
2×
Blocks leader
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

An elite two-way big and Defensive Player of the Year — a defensive centerpiece for Utah.

Jackson gives Utah a franchise-caliber two-way center — the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time blocks leader, and a floor-spacing scorer. His rim protection and range anchor a defense while adding offense; his availability and foul rate are the variables to watch.

Rim protectionElite
Perimeter defenseStrong
Stretch scoringStrong
Foul disciplineWatch

Contract

Peak
2023 DPOY anchor
Role
Two-way big centerpiece
Age
26 prime
Bottom line

A 2023 Defensive Player of the Year and two-way stretch big — elite rim protection paired with three-point range makes him a defensive centerpiece Utah can build around.

FAQ

Quick answers

What has Jaren Jackson Jr. won?

The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, two All-Star selections (2023, 2025), and two blocks titles, pairing elite rim protection with three-point range.

Where did Jaren Jackson Jr. build his career?

With the Memphis Grizzlies, who drafted him 4th in 2018; he became one of the league's premier two-way bigs before this move to Utah.

Is Jaren Jackson Jr. related to an NBA player?

Yes — his father, Jaren Jackson Sr., was an NBA player and champion; his mother leads the WNBA players' union.