When the conversation turns to the Memphis Grizzlies, it doesn’t take long for Ja Morant to become the focal point - for better or worse. But lately, it's Jaren Jackson Jr. who’s finding himself in the crosshairs of some pointed criticism. And this time, it’s coming from a pair of former NBA veterans who know a thing or two about what it takes to produce at a high level.
John Wall, former All-Star and current NBA analyst, didn’t hold back when discussing Jackson’s performance on the glass. While Jackson’s defensive prowess is well-documented - remember, he was named Defensive Player of the Year just a few seasons ago - Wall isn’t impressed with what he’s seeing in the rebounding department.
“You gotta be a guy that dominates,” Wall said during a segment on NBA on Prime. “You should be getting double-doubles every game. He gotta get more than 3 rebounds in a game.”
That comment wasn’t just a throwaway line - it was a direct reaction to Jackson’s performance against the Orlando Magic in Berlin, where the Grizzlies’ big man poured in 30 points but managed only three rebounds. For a player who stands 6-foot-10 and has the physical tools to be a force inside, that number raised eyebrows.
Wall’s frustration is rooted in expectation. Jackson has the length, the timing, and the athleticism to be a two-way monster.
And while he’s consistently shown up as a shot-blocking menace - earning three All-Defensive Team honors - his rebounding has lagged behind. This season, he’s averaging just 5.5 boards per game, a figure that feels underwhelming for someone with his size and role.
Rudy Gay, another former NBA standout, echoed Wall’s sentiment. “He’s only had two double-doubles [this season] at the size he is,” Gay said.
“That just seems low. This is a guy that has so much ability, there’s no reason he should waste it on the perimeter.”
It’s a fair point. Jackson’s offensive game has stretched further and further out to the three-point line in recent years, and while that floor-spacing is valuable in today’s NBA, it also pulls him away from the paint - and from rebounding opportunities.
Still, the rebounding numbers are hard to ignore. For a team like Memphis that thrives on gritty, second-chance plays and defensive stops, having their premier big man average fewer than six rebounds per game puts added pressure on the rest of the roster.
Jackson did respond, at least partially, in the Grizzlies’ next game - this time in London - with a modest bump in rebounding, finishing with five boards. But that’s still not the kind of production Wall and Gay are calling for. They’re not asking for 20-20 nights, but for a player of Jackson’s caliber and physical gifts, consistent double-doubles shouldn’t be out of reach.
The message from the former players was clear: Jaren Jackson Jr. has all the tools to be dominant - now it’s about putting it all together. The scoring is there.
The defense is elite. But until the rebounding catches up, questions will continue to follow.