Jaren Jackson Jr. Gives Intriguing Reason Behind His Jersey Number Change

Over the past few seasons, Jaren Jackson Jr. has blossomed into one of the best defenders in the NBA, with his crowning moment being a Defensive Player of the Year award. His future in the NBA is still incredibly bright; however, the Grizzlies are hoping that he can become the centerpiece of an NBA Championship team.

This offseason, he's made a very intriguing move, changing his number from 13 to 8, with many speculating as to the reason why he made the change. Now, the talented rim-protector has opened up on the decision, giving a very intriguing and thoughtful answer as to why he has shifted numbers.

“It's super personal to my family… I'm connected with 8 in a real way. It reaches into the territory of new beginnings. It's infinite. It's just a good place to draw energy from."

In his explanation, JJJ gives several reasons as to why he made the change, and while most expected a simple shoutout to a former player or a former number, his reasoning went far deeper than that. With the Grizzlies up against one of the toughest conferences in NBA history, they'll need every bit of Jackson's energy to be at its highest, and with the change bringing confidence and optimism heading into the new season, hopes are high.

Last season, the 25-year-old averaged 22 and 6 for a very good Grizzlies team, and with elite-level defense, he's established himself as a star in the NBA, and with the recent change, if he can take the next step, this team will be a dark horse in the West.