Jason & John discussed the breaking news on Thursday (5/22) afternoon that Jaren Jackson Jr. had been selected as All-Defensive NBA 2nd team.
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Memphis Grizzlies press release:
JAREN JACKSON JR. NAMED TO 2024-25 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Memphis, Tenn. – The NBA today announced that Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. was named to the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
This marks the third career All-Defensive selection for Jackson Jr. and third in the last four seasons after earning First Team honors during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Jackson Jr. received 107 points (21 First Team votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded two points for each vote for the First Team and one point for each vote for the Second Team.
Jackson Jr. ranked fifth in the NBA in total blocks (113) and seventh in blocks per game (1.5) while setting single-season career highs for total steals (92) and steals per game (1.2) over 74 games in his seventh NBA season. The 25-year-old was the only player in the league this season to average at least two blocks and two steals per 48 minutes (min. 1,100 minutes).
The Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for December 2024, Jackson Jr. held opponents 6.2 percent below their regular season average as the primary defender, which was the best defensive field goal percentage this season by an award-eligible player with a minimum of 500 shot attempts defended. With Jackson Jr. on the court, opponents shot 5.7 percent worse at the rim, and the Grizzlies’ defensive rating improved by 6.3 points.
Selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, Jackson Jr. has appeared in 407 games (398 starts) and has averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 blocks in 28.6 minutes. The Indiana native made his second career All-Star appearance this season and was named the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive First Team consists of Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley, Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels, Oklahoma City Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green and Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson.
Jackson Jr. is joined on the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Second Team by Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
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