MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Jaren Jackson Junior, along with three other Memphis Grizzlies players, is headed to the Utah Jazz, according to an announcement from ESPN on Tuesday.
“Heartbreaking,” said Kipp Holmes, a Grizzlies fan whose had season tickets for the past 25 years the team has called Memphis home.
Kipp, along with other fans, knew a trade was coming, but said they never expected it would be Jackson Jr.
Kipp Holmes, Grizzlies fan
Kipp Holmes, Grizzlies fan(Action News 5)
“I can see some of the trade, but Jaren Jackson Junior? Out of all people? The one who’s never injured, plays his heart out, he’s given to this city, why they would get rid of somebody, someone of his caliber, is beyond my understanding,” she said.
Holmes said she’s a huge Grizzlies fan with an entire sunroom in her house dedicated to the team and a basketball with JJJ’s signature.
The news had Holmes looking back on her favorite memory of Jackson Jr., when she brought her then-10-year-old daughter to a Grizzlies game with his college jersey.
Holmes said her daughter went up and asked Jackson Jr. to sign it.
Kipp Holmes' Grizzlies memorabilia, including a signed basketball with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s...
Kipp Holmes' Grizzlies memorabilia, including a signed basketball with Jaren Jackson Jr.'s autograph(Action News 5)
“He said, ‘Ok, well, after the game, I want you to come stand over here, and we’re going to have a code word. You yell ‘pancakes,’ and I’ll come sign your jersey,’” Holmes recalled. “So, she and her friend went over; she was not in the place where he said, but when he came by, she yelled ‘pancakes,’ and he came back and signed her jersey, handed it to her, and gave her a big hug. It was the sweetest thing ever.”
Monday night, JJJ put on a show for the FedExForum crowd, leading the team with 30 points. He helped the Grizzlies get back in the win column against Minnesota with a nine-point win.
Less than 24 hours later, Jackson and three other Grizzlies are now on the move to the Utah Jazz as part of a massive trade.
Other fans who spoke to Action News 5 said Jackson Jr.’s trade will be a loss for Memphis, especially with him spending seven seasons with the team.
“Jaren was great. Defensive player of the year was something else. Always had a good attitude, seemed like a good steward of the city, and that’s what you’re looking for... Looking at the team as a whole, I guess, you know, he was the good face forward for the past little bit,” said David Driscoll, a Grizzlies fan.
Other fans, like Veronica Smith, said she’s uncertain about the direction the franchise is heading.
“I think that’s not good. We’re going to need him for the Grizzlies. Yeah, so, that’s not good,” she said.
Grizzlies’ fans won’t have to wait long to possibly see Jackson back on the court here.
The Grizzlies’ next home game is February 20, against Jackson Jr.’s new team, the Utah Jazz.
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