Jaren Jackson Jr. Is The Only Player From The First Round Of The 2018 Draft On His Original Team

With the way the current salary cap system works, free agency and player empowerment, the likelihood of NBA players staying put for long periods of time is becoming increasingly rare. Pull up the 2018 NBA Draft class, and you will find what appears to be a collection of basketball nomads scattered across the league. Luka Dončić? Went from Dallas to the Lakers in a shocking February 2025 blockbuster trade. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent just one season in LA before being traded to OKC. First overall pick DeAndre Ayton bounced from Phoenix to Portland before landing with the Lakers in July 2025. Trae Young just got traded from Atlanta to Washington on Wednesday. 

And then there's Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Of the thirty players drafted in the first round, he is the only one still wearing the jersey of the team that drafted him. 

While his name has been attached to trade rumors over the years, it is still a bit surprising that Jackson is the only player to stay put. Unlike some other teams in the league, it seems as though the Grizzlies didn't hit the panic button as quickly as others may have, especially when it comes to their young talent. They drafted Ja Morant the next year, built something real with Desmond Bane (who has since been moved to Orlando) and Zach Edey, and rode out the storm. Or maybe it's because Jackson became exactly what they needed, a Defensive Player of the Year winner and two-time All-Star who can stretch the floor and anchor a defense.

In June 2025, Jackson signed a five-year, $240 million extension with Memphis, a long-term commitment from both sides. While his 2018 classmates bounce around the league chasing championships or fresh starts, Jackson, who is currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, continues to be a building block for the 16⁠–21 Grizzlies, who are looking to retool on the fly as they hope to remain competitive in the Western Conference standings.