“I believe Ja Morant but I don’t believe Jaren Jackson Jr. Let’s have an uncomfortable conversation real quick. He is the most overhyped player in this league. He’s not even a top-ten big in my eyes, and here’s why I’m going at him… Do you realize 43 was my jersey number in Boston? Do you realize four and three is what I averaged? You an All-Star, bro. They need you to step up at the biggest times. I don’t care—it’s a make-or-miss league,” stated Kendrick Perkins on ESPN.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is under fire at a crucial point in his career. The spotlight is on his playoff inconsistency. He scored just 4 points in Game 1 and 26 points in the Game 2. That swing in performance drew criticism, especially from voices like Kendrick Perkins. They argue Jackson should already be leading the team in the postseason. So far, he has not met those expectations.

The Grizzlies, however, have not had an easy matchup. Facing the Oklahoma City Thunder is a serious challenge. Memphis have lost both playoff games against them. Competing with a team as solid as OKC is never simple. The Thunder have a deep, balanced roster. They have maintained consistency all year, both in the regular season and now in the NBA playoffs. That makes it even harder for Jackson to stand out.

What the Memphis Grizzlies must do to keep their playoffs Conference Semifinals hopes alive?

The Memphis Grizzlies entered their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with one clear goal: Win at least one of the first two games on the road. However, the Thunder dominated both matchups and left no room for surprises. As a result, the Grizzlies now return home facing immense pressure.

If they want any shot at advancing, they must win both games in Memphis. That will not be enough to clinch the series, but it would force a decisive Game 5. Still, fans will be heartbroken if their team does not reach Game 4 with a real chance. The situation is difficult, but there is still a path forward.

At this stage, the Grizzlies need their stars to take charge. Jaren Jackson Jr. has to step up and lead by example. His performance could be the difference between survival and elimination. There is no more room for hesitation, only results will keep Memphis alive.

During the postgame press conference following the Warriors’ 134-125 victory at FedExForum, Green was asked about Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s ejection for committing six fouls and how it benefited Golden State. “I’m disappointed in Jaren,” was the surprising response from the 35-year-old forward.

“He’s too good to still be getting in foul trouble. A couple of those fouls he picked up, he can stay away from them. It’s time for him to take that next step in that department,” Draymond added. “It was huge for us for him to get out of the game. I’m happy he did, but I’m a Jaren fan. I’m always rooting for him.”

The four-time NBA champion then explained his connection with Jackson. “You know I’ve got a lot of love for him, that’s my Spartan dog,” he said. “That was a little disappointing from the big brother in me for him… To see him still getting some of those fouls that he’s picking up, he can’t do that. His team needs him out there.”

Draymond Green’s reaction to Jaren Jackson Jr.’s ejection

In the same press conference, Green elaborated on the duality of emotions he felt during the game as Jaren Jackson Jr. accumulated fouls leading to his ejection. “Every foul he picked up, I was happy during the game,” he admitted. “But there’s a part of me thinking, ‘You can’t do that.’ When he picked up the fifth one, I literally walked to (Desmond) Bane on the bench and said, ‘Bane, that’s crazy. That’s ridiculous.’”

Green then reiterated his praise for the Grizzlies‘ power forward. “Jaren can’t do that, man. Jaren’s too good of a player to still be doing that,” Draymond said. “He’s gotta figure that out. He’s gotten too much better offensively, and he’s too hard to stop to be taking himself out of the game on the defensive side of the ball.”

Green knows what he’s talking about

When discussing Jaren Jackson Jr.’s performance and how he should behave on the defensive side of the ball, the Warriors star speaks from a position of authority as one of the NBA’s top players in that aspect of the game.

Having won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, he is now in the running for his second trophy this year. Green himself has defended his case, clearly outlining his defensive virtues compared to other NBA stars, and that opinion seems to be gaining traction among analysts and fans alike.

Draymond was named Defensive Player of the Month for March, which further boosts his chances of claiming the annual award, surpassing other NBA players in the conversation, including Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley.

Beyond his titles, Durant has achieved remarkable feats in his career. Not only does he hold the record for the most points scored for Team USA in the Olympics, but he is also the all-time leading scorer for the national team.

After 16 years in the NBA, Durant has inspired countless young players who now share the court with him. One of those players is Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr., who recently admitted that Durant was his childhood hero.

“KD’s been doing this for a long time. He was my favorite player growing up,” Jackson said during an appearance on the “Old Man & The Three” podcast. “I saw KD go 13-14, all pull-ups. In Memphis. I wasn’t playing. They were all pull-ups. That rim stuff is just boring for him. He’s just trying to have fun.”

Anthony Edwards echoes Jackson’s admiration for KD

In February 2024, Anthony Edwards, the star guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, made headlines when he declared Durant as his GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Edwards, who grew up watching Durant, confessed, “He’s my favorite player of all time. I’ve always been a huge fan.”

During an interview at Fanatics Fest with former NBA player Jalen Rose, Edwards shared the mixed emotions he felt after the Timberwolves eliminated Durant’s Suns in the playoff semifinals.

Edwards admitted that beating his childhood idol wasn’t as satisfying as one might expect. “I’m not going to lie… I felt bad a little bit, only because he is my favorite player of all time,” Edwards said, according to ClutchPoints. “I didn’t want to send him home like that. You know what I mean? It happened, man, and I felt bad.”

Edwards also revealed what it felt like to play alongside his idol Durant at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: “It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Edwards said according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

Coach Steve Kerr recently called him out for getting into foul trouble, rolling with Paolo Banchero in crunch time instead. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t exactly care for those comments.

Now, in his latest statement, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year may have clapped back by taking a shot at the Golden State Warriors and some of their players.

Jaren Jackson Jr. Takes A Shot At The Dubs

“Coach Kerr is using his system. It’s just more or less what Draymond [Green] would have ran or [Kevon] Looney, and just with better players,” Jackson told Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer. “A lot of delay actions and stuff like that.”

It’s not a secret that the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors don’t get along. Klay Thompson has openly mocked them and called them out in the past, and vice versa.

But Jackson will have no choice but to play along and be a team player. Otherwise, Kerr will have more than enough options on the bench to use instead of him.

That includes Jaren Jackson Jr, who’s fresh off being named Defensive Player of the Year, yet wasn’t on the floor when Team USA closed out New Zealand in the FIBA World Cup.

As good as the Memphis Grizzlies star is, he often gets into foul trouble, which is why Kerr decided to roll with Paolo Banchero instead. Needless to say, Jackson didn’t exactly care for that.

Steve Kerr Wants Jaren Jackson Jr. Out Of Foul Trouble

“He has the ability to block everything,” Kerr told Yahoo Sports. “But sometimes he needs to dial it back a little bit. He’s foul-prone in the NBA. So, there’s always one or two plays where you just want him to let it go, because he’s too important to us. So we share those clips and just remind him sometimes the best play is to just let the guy go and don’t pick up the foul.”

“Go get it, man,” Jackson replied. “It comes with it. If I’m gonna be less aggressive, I’m gonna have less blocks, I’m gonna bring less rim protection, and I’ma have less fouls with all that. Pick one or the other. Which one do you want? Do you want me to be great or not?”

At the end of the day, he’ll have no choice but to comply with his coach’s demands. But it’ll be interesting to see how he handles things when the Grizzlies face the Dubs next season.