Kendrick Perkins Says 1 Grizzlies Player Will Step Up In Ja Morant’s Absence

The Memphis Grizzlies have made a few interesting additions to their roster this season, including former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, and they’re hoping to build on what they did last season when they finished second in the Western Conference.

They went down in flames in the playoffs, losing in six games in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers, making it clear they have lots of growth to do before they can start thinking about contending for the NBA championship.

The big elephant in the room is the growth of Ja Morant, who will serve a 25-game suspension this season for his latest of several gun-related incidents.

Former NBA player and current ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins says that in Morant’s absence, he expects big man Jaren Jackson Jr. to put up well over 20 points a game and keep Memphis above water.

.@kendrickperkins has high expectations for Jaren Jackson Jr. during Ja Morant’s suspension ? pic.twitter.com/oJ9jHZN1nM

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 4, 2023

Perkins added that he sees Memphis as a play-in team because of how stacked the Western Conference is, but he also said if they hover around .500 without Morant they’ll be in “great shape” when he comes back from his suspension.

Jackson, 24, had a strong 2022-23 campaign, averaging 18.6 points and a league-high 3.0 blocked shots a game while earning his first All-Star nod and winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Grizzlies should continue to be a strong defensive team without Morant, but their offense will likely struggle at least a little bit, especially since Morant won’t be around to create extra fast-break opportunities.

But they should still be a dangerous and chippy team once the postseason starts, no matter where they fall in the standings.

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Grizzlies Reporter Shares Picture Of Ja Morant In The Gym