On Thursday, Ja Morant found out that his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. was in danger of missing the rest of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
It was reported that Jackson was discovered to have a localized PVNS growth in his left knee following the trade, and would undergo surgery. While Jackson isn't guaranteed to miss the rest of the season, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reports that's the expectation.
Morant reacted to the news shortly after, sending love to his former running mate.
Jackson, a former first-round pick, landed with the Grizzlies in 2018. He was the fourth pick out of Michigan State.
In the following draft, the Grizzlies picked up Ja Morant with their second-overall pick. The two players were crucial in turning the Grizzlies into playoff contenders in the Western Conference for a short period.
However, the Grizzlies struggled as of late. Last season, they parted ways with their head coach, Taylor Jenkins. The Grizzlies still managed to make the playoffs through the NBA Play-In Tournament. As the eighth seed, the Grizzlies took on the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. They lost 4-0.
The 2025-2026 NBA season didn't start as planned for Memphis. Morant grew disgruntled quickly, which eventually led the Grizzlies to start taking trade calls on the star. As the Grizzlies started signaling for a potential rebuild, Jackson's name was tossed out as a potential trade piece as well.
Morant ended up sticking with the Grizzlies. Jackson got a fresh start.
The Grizzlies traded Jackson, John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz. Memphis netted Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three first-round picks in return.
Jackson debuted for the Jazz and appeared in three games. He's been a standout, shooting 49 percent from the field and averaging 22.3 points per game. The Jazz are optimistic about his future with the franchise and want to do what they can to keep him healthy for next season.
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