When Ja Morant's name repeatedly surfaced in trade speculations, it naturally led many to believe that the Memphis Grizzlies might eventually pivot towards building around Jaren Jackson Jr. However, once the seven-foot center became the player who was moved, that too, to a rebuilding Utah Jazz team, Kendrick Perkins wasn't one bit surprised.
In fact, the former NBA champion openly criticized Jackson Jr. for failing to stand firm on the faith shown by the Grizzlies organization, questioning his commitment, pointing towards his poor body language and constant half-hearted plays when the team desperately wanted him to inspire the less-experienced players.
After winning the DPOY award in 2023, expectations were high for Jaren to take a definite leap into true stardom. However, in the next two seasons, he barely managed to average over 22.0 points, yet the Grizzlies chose to trade Desmond Bane over JJJ in the hopes of the two-time All-Star fulfilling those expectations.
Though the franchise wanted him to step up as a leader, the exact opposite happened. Since the opening week of the 2025-26 season, Jaren looked like a shadow of his former self, averaging 19.2 points nd 1.5 blocks over 45 appearances. More notably, his dominance in the post was reduced to such an extent that not only did he log merely two double-doubles so far, but he was constantly caught out of position and unable to anchor the team in clutch stretches.
That perceived lack of urgency and accountability frustrated Perkins whenever he saw Jaren in action. As a result, the 41-year-old player-turned-analyst proclaimed how Jackson Jr. has no one else but himself to blame for this outcome. Put simply, Perkins emphasized that the latter's story is a perfect example of how raw talent and skill set are never enough if they aren't matched with hard work and zeal.
"They have been witnessing the same thing we have been seeing. We thought you was going to be that dude, but what we been watching for the last year and a half, you're actually not Jaren Jackson Jr. You are not a guy we could go depend on. Listen when you talk about the most hype overrated guys in the NBA, he is No. 1 on my list," Perkins said .
"I don't give a damn. When you talk about a guy that has that caliber of skill set, I question his mode. There's no way his a– should be out there, and he's giving you 17 and 8 a night. He don't rebound," the retired big man added.
While "Big Perk" is entitled to have such a bold opinion, placing all the blame on Jackson Jr. would ignore the broader context surrounding the Grizzlies. For instance, Morant's recurring off-court controversies, constant lineup fluctuation, recurrent injury setbacks and publicized friction between players and coaches created an unstable environment.
That turbulence was visible at times, and Jackson's demeanor often reflected the dysfunction within the locker room. In environments where stability and respect are missing, it's hard for players to find their best form.
That being said, maybe all that Jackson Jr. required to re-establish himself as one of the best forces in the paint was to join a new team where he could contribute to its identity-building. Now with Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George by his side, his role seems more defined on the defensive end.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
