When you’re in a slump, it’s easy to look for quick fixes. But in the NBA, where every possession is a chess match and every shot is contested, the only real antidote is the work. That’s something Jaren Jackson Jr. understands deeply - and something Cam Spencer is living proof of.
Jackson Jr., who was posting near career lows through mid-November, has started to turn the corner. And he’s doing it the hard way - by doubling down on the daily grind that doesn’t show up in the box score.
The film sessions, the recovery, the extra reps when no one’s watching. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the foundation of every bounce-back story in this league.
“I don't know, sometimes it just goes like that,” Jackson Jr. said with a shrug and a smile. “You’ve got to commit, you’ve got to buy in.
You’ve got to be here every day working on your game and be ready to play. That’s really the important thing - getting your rest and doing all the little things so I’m ready to go out here and perform.”
That mindset - that relentless attention to detail - is exactly what makes Cam Spencer’s emergence so impressive. While Jackson Jr. is clawing his way back to form, Spencer is showing what it looks like when all that behind-the-scenes work starts to pay off in real time.
“It's special. Nice to see.
We see it all the time in practice,” Jackson Jr. said. “When [Spencer] is shooting, always there early.
He is shooting on the gun, he is shooting by himself. He doesn't even need a rebounder.
Sometimes he is there at night. Sometimes he is there when we don't want him to be there.
Honestly, people stay trying to kick him out [of the practice facility].”
That’s not just a compliment - it’s a blueprint. Spencer’s become one of the most reliable shooters in the game, and it’s not by accident.
Through December 17, he’s putting up a scorching 51.5% from the field with a true shooting percentage north of 71%. Add in 12 points and four assists a night, and you’ve got a guy who’s not just efficient - he’s quietly becoming essential.
“That's what you get when you put in that type of work,” Jackson Jr. added. “He's doing everything right now. I'm proud of him.”
The parallels between Jackson Jr. and Spencer are striking - not because they’re in the same place statistically, but because they’re driven by the same engine. For Jackson Jr., it’s about rediscovering his rhythm.
For Spencer, it’s about sustaining his rise. But for both, the fuel is the same: a non-negotiable commitment to the process.
This is what separates pros from players. Not the hot streaks or the highlight reels - but the willingness to show up, day in and day out, when the lights are off and no one’s cheering.
Spencer’s breakout isn’t a fluke; it’s the result of hours in the gym when no one else was around. Jackson Jr.’s resurgence isn’t a surprise; it’s the product of a mindset that refuses to let a slump define him.
Together, their stories are a reminder that success in the NBA isn’t about avoiding the valleys - it’s about having a road map to climb out of them. And right now, the Grizzlies are benefitting from two players who know exactly how to navigate that path.