Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. isn't shy about what a second Defensive Player of the Year award would mean to him.
"It's hard to win it two times. You can see that now. It's not a given. So it would mean the world," Jackson told Athlon Sports' Mark Medina.
Jackson, who is firmly in the hunt for Defensive Player of the Year and won the award in 2023, is having the best statistical season of his seven-year career, averaging a career-high 23 points per game to go along with 1.6 blocks, 1.3 steals, six rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
The Michigan State product won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Month award in December and will be participating in his second All-Star Game this weekend in San Francisco.
Only 10 players have earned multiple DPOY awards since the honor was first handed out during the 1982-83 campaign. If Jackson wins his second trophy, he will trail only Ben Wallace (four), Dikembe Mutombo (four), Rudy Gobert (four), and Dwight Howard (three) and be ahead of legendary defenders such as Kevin Garnett, David Robinson, and Gary Payton.
The Grizzlies once again boast one of the Association's premier defenses. They rank seventh in defensive net rating (110.9), third in opponent field-goal percentage (45.1%), sixth in opponent 3-point percentage (35%), third in blocks per game (six), and sixth in steals per contest (9.1).
Jackson's impact on defense becomes most apparent when looking at his on-off statistics. The Grizzlies allow 8.3 fewer points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor. The next-closest Memphis player is Ja Morant at minus-3.2.
If Jackson makes an All-NBA squad, he'll become eligible for a supermax contract extension that would make him the highest-paid player in Grizzlies history.
The 36-18 Grizzlies sit second in the West and have won seven of their last 10 contests.
