Jaren Jackson Jr. made his way onto the FedExForum floor about 90 minutes before the Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Utah Jazz. The scene was filled with nostalgia as Jackson, a former Grizzlies stalwart for over seven seasons, reconnected with familiar faces-teammates, coaches, fans, and even ushers. Williams and Konchar were also on the court, sharing in the pregame camaraderie.
This marked the first return for the trio since their trade on February 3 in an eight-player deal. The atmosphere was electric, with tribute videos, standing ovations, and a heartfelt postgame meetup at halfcourt, giving the game a family reunion vibe. The Grizzlies secured a 123-114 victory over the Jazz, but the emotional connections were the highlight.
Jackson was sidelined due to recent surgery on his left knee, while Williams contributed seven points and Konchar added six. Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Grizzlies (21-33) with an impressive 23 points and was among those who shared warm postgame moments with Jackson, Konchar, and Williams.
"Playing against them felt strange," Prosper admitted. "I wish them all the best in their new journey. They'll always hold a special place in my heart."
GG Jackson put up a solid performance with 20 points, shooting 7-for-13 from the field.
Jackson and Williams, who had played together for over two seasons, grew particularly close in their third year. The night before the game, Williams visited Jackson's home, where they spent over an hour catching up on basketball and life.
"I’m still adjusting to seeing them in different jerseys," Jackson remarked. "I wish them all the luck."
Jaylen Wells echoed the sentiment, admitting it was surreal playing against his former teammates. At one point, he almost cheered when Konchar went up for a dunk.
"The tribute videos during timeouts were a nice touch," Wells said. "It was definitely a strange feeling playing against them."