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Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies announced applications for 191 Collabs, presented by Hennessy, are open for the upcoming 2024-25 season. &nbsp;

Entering its third season, 191 Collabs is an incubator program that assists local designers and artists with producing and profiting from an official Grizzlies garment collection, sold exclusively at FedExForum, located at 191 Beale Street. Interested applicants can go to 191collabs.com to share contact information and work samples by Monday, June 10, to be eligible. &nbsp;

191 Collabs continues to celebrate Memphis creators and showcase the city’s unique voice and vibe through hyper-local Grizz Garments. Past collaborators include Prep Curry, Alexis Miché, Unapologetic, ODDS Atelier, Zach Myers of Shinedown, Good Hippy, Rowdy Dept. and Immortal Ink. &nbsp;

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2024-25 season tickets can do so now by going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter/X and Instagram. 

The leader in Cognac, the Maison Hennessy has shined around the world with its exceptional blends for more than 250 years. Built on founder Richard Hennessy's spirit of conquest, the brand is present in more than 160 countries. Based in the heart of the Charente region, Hennessy is also a steadfast pillar of the regional economy, the standard-bearer for a sector rich in expertise. The House's success and longevity are rooted in the excellence of its cognacs, each of which is born of a unique process of transmission from generation to generation. The first wine and spirits house to be certified ISO 14001, Hennessy unites its capacity for innovation and the support of all its partners to protect this exceptional area. As the crown jewel of the LVMH Group, Hennessy is a major contributor to French international trade, with 99% of production sold in export, and a worldwide ambassador for the French art de vivre.&nbsp;

Hennessy is imported and distributed in the U.S. by Moët Hennessy USA. Hennessy distills, ages and blends spanning a full range: Hennessy V.S, V.S.O.P, X.O, Privé, Paradis Imperial and Richard Hennessy. Imported Cognac Hennessy® 40% Alc./Vol. (80º), ©2023 Imported by Moët Hennessy USA, Inc., New York, NY”&nbsp;

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Memphis Artists and Designers: Apply to partner with the Grizzlies for year three of 191 Collabs to create Grizz Gear With a Memphis vibe and local design

Memphis, Tenn. – The NBA today announced that Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II was named to the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. 

Jackson II (6-9, 215) competed in 48 games (18 starts) this season and averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.7 minutes after he was selected by the Grizzlies with the 45th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The youngest player in the NBA this season, the 19-year-old ranked fourth among rookies in scoring average and third after the All-Star break behind only San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller. He also ranked fourth in defensive rating (111.4) among rookies who averaged at least 24 minutes per game. 

The South Carolina native averaged 20.4 points in his final 18 appearances this season, reaching double figures in every game, and recorded 37.5 points over his final two games. He set a single-game rookie franchise record with a career-high 44 points, the second-highest scoring total by a teenager in NBA history, in the regular season finale on April 14 vs. Denver.&nbsp;

Jackson II is the fifth Grizzlies player in the last six seasons to receive All-Rookie honors, including Jaren Jackson Jr. (First Team in 2018-19), Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke (First Team in 2019-20) and Desmond Bane (Second Team in 2021-22). 

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GG Jackson II Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team

Memphis, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the organization will host its Raise the Rim unveiling ceremony at Fox Meadows Elementary School on Tuesday, May 21, from 2-3 p.m., gifting the school two new Grizzlies-branded basketball hoop systems.&nbsp;

Created during the 2023-24 season,theRaise the Rim initiative is designed to support local youth and families, providing them with access to quality equipment to pursue their love for basketball, healthy exercise and fun.&nbsp;

Fans and members of the Memphis community were encouraged to nominate local non-profits, schools and community centers lacking quality outdoor basketball hoops systems. Outdated systems were removed and replaced with brand new systems, complete with backboards, poles, rims, nets and pole padding. John P. Freeman Optional School was also selected to receive two new basketball hoop systems, alongside Fox Meadows Elementary School. &nbsp;

“We are so grateful to the Grizzlies for this generous gift of two new Grizzlies-branded basketball hoop systems,” Fox Meadows Elementary Principal Tameka Allen said. “It will build school camaraderie and give our students the opportunity to increase their skills.”&nbsp;

Accompanied by Grizzlies analyst Brevin Knight and former Grizzlies player Tony Allen, Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins will also make a special appearance at the event, presenting his fifth annual Assists for Education donation. Throughout the past five seasons, Jenkins has pledged $10 per Grizzlies assist to provide educational support for students in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The program provides everyday necessities, such as school supplies, socks, clothing and more, to students throughout the greater Memphis area. This season, the Grizzlies recorded 2,025 assists in 82 regular season games. Led by Desmond Bane’s 230 assists, Jenkins donated $20,250 through the initiative.&nbsp;

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Memphis Grizzlies Host Raise the Rim Unveiling Ceremony on Tuesday, May 21

But the venue, global spotlight and ultimate stakes seem to all have intensified in the 20 years that have passed since Tony Allen was an emerging prospect at the NBA Draft Combine.

As he surveyed the action on the court Monday at Wintrust Arena, the retired Grizzlies legend insisted there should be a clear approach among those working to solidify their NBA draft stock.

“Seek and destroy,” Allen surmised from a perch overlooking some of the top lottery prospects pushing through drills and workouts. “It’s, ‘I’m trying to get ahead, for sure.’ Because everybody is looking at those mock drafts, whether they’re talking about it or not. And they’re trying to move up. Then you see guys that are (supposedly) better than you, and you just want to go out here and impress. That’s the whole mindset.”

Featuring projected No. 1 pick Alex Sarr to the intrigue surrounding Bronny James, the weeklong NBA Combine opened Monday with nearly 80 draft-eligible prospects pushing through drills, measurements and meetings with NBA executives from all 30 teams.

That includes a front-office and coaching contingent from the Grizzlies, who emerged from Sunday’s NBA Lottery with the No. 9 overall pick in next month’s draft. Although president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman has indicated since last month’s season finale that the priority is to bolster the power rotation, he also stressed there are multiple options to do so.

Neither Kleiman nor vice president of player affairs Tayshaun Prince tipped their hand after the Lottery as to whether the Grizzlies would use the No. 9 pick on a post player next month. The Grizzlies options remain open, from using the draft pick to select the best available player at that time to potentially packaging the pick in a trade to land veteran help or additional assets.

“The doors that are open may well be different, depending on which players can be in a certain range, which players might be available in trades, depending on where that pick lands,” Kleiman said at last month’s season exit interviews. “That will really allow us to start working through it.”

The Grizzlies are looking to continue building around a core of Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Desmond Bane as they regroup from an injury-plagued 27-55 season. Memphis missed the playoffs for the first time in four years after posting the second-best record in the Western Conference in each of the previous two seasons.

And they’re drafting in the lottery for the time since selecting Morant No. 2 overall in 2019 and Jackson the previous year with the No. 4 pick in 2018.

Morant, limited to just nine games due to league suspension and season-ending shoulder surgery, vowed that it won’t take Memphis long to regain status among top contenders when healthy.

“I think we can do it next season, honestly,” Morant said entering the offseason.

For now, the franchise’s focus – and the NBA’s attention outside the playoffs – is on the Combine. Monday’s activities started with some of the more high-profile big men working their way through on-court drill stations. That initial group included Sarr, the 7-foot-1 versatile forward-center from France who is aligned with the No. 1 pick, owned by the Hawks.

Sarr spent time on the floor Monday alongside NCAA Tournament champion and UCONN center Donovan Clingan and two-time Naismith College Player of the Year Zach Edey from Purdue. Neither Sarr, Clingan or Edey are expected to participate in 5-on-5 scrimmage games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday between teams consisting of lower-tier draft prospects.

Yet, those scrimmage sessions won’t lack for attention as players work to position themselves late into the first round or onto the draft board altogether as potential second-round picks. One of the most-watched prospects in this week’s scrimmages is expected to be James, the combo guard out of USC who is the older son of NBA superstar LeBron James.

After recovering from a heart condition that limited his freshman season in college, the younger James was reportedly cleared last week by a medical panel to be draft-eligible by the NBA. Reports on Monday also indicated Bronny James is expected to remain in the draft and will bypass his option to return to college or pursue the transfer portal.

James is listed on the NBA Combine’s scrimmage roster of Team St. Andrews, which will be coached by Grizzlies assistant coach Patrick St. Andrews. Others with local ties are also participating in scrimmages, including University of Memphis standouts David Jones and Nae’Qwan Tomlin.

For Allen, being back in his hometown and in the Combine environment on the 20th anniversary of his journey to the NBA Draft, was a bit nostalgic. It was a strong combine showing in 2004, then held at Chicago’s Moody Bible College, that solidified Allen a month later as a first-round pick out of Oklahoma State when he was selected No. 25 overall by the Boston Celtics.

Competing in scrimmages allowed Allen to work his way up the draft board and into the late first round alongside the likes of Jameer Nelson, J.R. Smith, Delonte West and Kevin Martin.

Allen spent six NBA season with the Celtics, where he won a championship in 2008 before joining the Grizzlies for a decade-long stint as an architect of the beloved Grit-and-Grind era. He was a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection.

These days, Allen is a team ambassador. He’s not part of the front-office contingent working the Combine this week, and he’s not involved in the Grizzlies draft or personnel process.

He was simply back home, and in the neighborhood.

And thankful for the opportunity to stop by the Combine and share his perspective on the grind it takes to make a draftable impression on NBA teams during a week like this.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“Looking back at the mock drafts then, I always thought I was going to be in the second round, maybe a late first-rounder,” Allen recalled. “But the combine itself helped me get into the first round. I didn’t need all 30 teams to like me. I only needed just one. And if you can impress that one team, my dream can come true. So, this is the time to get your game on right now.”

“Twenty, huh . . . makes me feel old,” he said before a short pause, then smile. “Old and wise.”&nbsp;

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies eye NBA Combine as Allen reflects on 20-year anniversary of draft journey

CHICAGO – Just how lucky is the No. 7, truly?

As it relates to the NBA’s Draft Lottery odds, the Grizzlies are on the verge of finding out.

The Grizzlies are among 14 teams that will enter McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago on Sunday hoping a set of numbered ping-pong balls bounce their way and deliver the No. 1 pick in next month’s NBA Draft.

Coming off an injury-riddled 27-55 season, Memphis is slotted with the seventh-best odds as it lands in the lottery for the third time in seven years. However, the Grizzlies are in a unique position amid mostly young and rebuilding teams looking to draft the next prized prospects.

The Grizzlies are a bit of an outlier in a group that includes the Pistons, Wizards, Blazers, Spurs and Hornets – teams that own the best odds to emerge Sunday with the top pick.&nbsp;

The Grizzlies arrive at the lottery with a proven core just entering their prime in Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, a veteran supporting cast that includes Marcus Smart and rapidly developing young talent in Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson.

So, regardless of where the ping-pong balls settle Sunday, Memphis will move forward with a top draft asset and plenty of encouraging avenues to further bolster its roster. A franchise that recently finished second in the Western Conference over consecutive seasons will be set up to quickly bounce back from last season’s letdown and reclaim status among the top contenders.

“We’ll obviously have more information about what pick we have, (and) a lot begins to allow us to think through next steps,” Grizzlies president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman said ahead of Sunday’s lottery. “We’re going to be openminded on what we can do with that pick.”

Kleiman is prepared with a response and will get to work no matter how the lottery pans out.

“If on Lottery Night we move up, what I will have to say is, ‘Great, we’ve moved up – either we’re going to take the best available player or trade the pick,’” Kleiman suggested. “If we don’t move up on Lottery Night, I’ll say, ‘We still have this great pick; we’re either going to trade the pick or pick the best player available. We know what we want to address . . . We’ll have a better idea once we know where we are in this draft.”

As the countdown to clarity looms, here are Grind City Media’s ‘Five Things To Know’ about the Grizzlies entering the lottery.

Seeded behind Detroit (14.0%), Washington (14.0%), Charlotte (13.3%), Portland (13.2%), San Antonio (10.5%) and Toronto (9.0%), Memphis has a 7.5-percent shot to secure the No. 1 pick.

That places the Grizzlies right in the middle of the lottery pecking order. Slotted behind Memphis entering Sunday are Utah (6.0%), Brooklyn (4.5%), Atlanta (3.0%), Chicago (2.0%), Houston (1.5%), Sacramento (0.8%) and Golden State (0.7%).

Historically, teams in the Grizzlies’ 7th position entering the lottery have fared well, especially recently. Since the lottery expanded to its current format in 1990, there have been eight instances where the team slotted seventh jumped into the top four after the lottery drawing.

It happened five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022. And three times – in 2000, 2007 and 2019 – the team with the seventh-best lottery odds emerged with the No. 1 pick. The Grizzlies are one of nine NBA franchises that has never landed in the lottery’s top spot.

The last two times the Grizzlies were in the draft lottery, they moved in far different directions but ultimately acquired a pair of franchise anchors.

In 2018, the Grizzlies had the NBA’s second-worst record, therefore the second-best odds to secure the No. 1 pick. As it turned out, Memphis fell two spots and into the fourth pick, which produce Jackson Jr. after Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic were selected.

A year later, the Grizzlies were part of a historic result at the draft lottery. Positioned eighth going in, Memphis was one of three teams that jumped into the top four when the balls dropped. The Pelicans hopped from seventh to the No. 1 spot and ultimately picked Zion Williamson, the Grizzlies propelled from eighth to No. 2 and chose Morant and the Lakers leapfrogged from 11th in the order to the No. 4 slot to draft and trade De’Andre Hunter.

In Jackson Jr. and Morant, the Grizzlies duo has combined for three All-Star appearances, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and a Rookie of the Year selection.

The Grizzlies will be represented on the lottery broadcast stage by vice president of basketball affairs Tayshaun Prince, a 14-year NBA veteran who won a championship in 2004 with Detroit.&nbsp;

Prince is one of the most respected and connected voices in the organization when it comes to relationships with executives, players and agents across the league. When the Grizzlies were last in the lottery, multiple players who either worked out or interviewed with the Grizzlies during the draft process spoke highly of their dealings with Prince and his ability to relate.

Memphis will also have a front-office executive, presumably Kleiman, representing the team inside the sequestered room where the actual lottery drawing is administered by an independent accounting firm. That process unfolds 90 minutes prior to the national television broadcast, where the 14 team envelopes holding results will be revealed in descending order.

Picking up from where we left on in the First Thing To Know about the Grizzlies entering the lottery – here’s a guarantee: Memphis will end up with no worse than the No. 11 pick.

Another fact: Based on lottery rules and metrics, it’s impossible for the Grizzlies to get the fifth or sixth selections. So, they have 31.9-percent chance to land a top-four pick, a 19.7-percent shot to remain at seventh or a 48.3-percent possibility to fall to eighth, ninth, 10th or 11th.

Much like the Grizzlies’ potential landing spots in the lottery, the top prospects in this year’s draft class are also essentially all over the board, based on prominent mock drafts.

The consensus heads of the class appear to be French center Alex Sarr, French swingman Zaccharie Risacher, a pair of UCONN championship teammates in guard Stephon Castle and center Donovan Clingan, along with Kentucky’s duo of Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard.

Once the lottery ends, the Grizzlies will be among the NBA’s 30 teams with executives and coaching staffs remaining in Chicago to attend the weeklong NBA Draft Combine.

Nearly 80 draft-eligible players were invited to the Combine, which starts Monday, to take measurements, interview with team personnel and participate in drills or workouts. Unlike in previous years, a relatively new amendment to the league’s collective bargaining agreement requires invited players to participate in many of the organized Combine activities.

It all leads to next month’s NBA Draft, which for the first time will take place over two days in New York. The first round is June 26 and the second round is June 27. The Grizzlies are currently positioned to have their lottery selection as well as picks No. 39 and 56 in the second round.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies take 7th-best odds into NBA Draft Lottery with roster upgrade options open

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the organization will host the&nbsp;Grizzlies Garage Sale, benefiting&nbsp;St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, on&nbsp;Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Grand Lobby of FedExForum.

The single-day event allows fans to purchase Grizzlies memorabilia, autographed items, sneakers, jerseys, basketballs and more from previous seasons. Fans can also enjoy various food trucks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Complimentary parking in Gossett Motors Parking Garage will be available for all participants. All sales are final, and shoppers are responsible for same-day transportation of each purchase. The Grizzlies Garage Sale is a cashless event.

The Grizzlies Den, a Fanatics experience, will also open at 10 a.m. for fans to score 40% off all remaining 191 Collabs inventory, City Edition product and select on-court apparel.

FedExForum has a&nbsp;clear bag policy&nbsp;that limits the size and types of bags that may be brought into the venue for all events. Only clear bags made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC no larger than&nbsp;6x8x2 inches&nbsp;will be allowed inside FedExForum. Clear bags may not have an all-over print or decoration that prohibits full view of its contents. Clear bags may contain a strap, but metal or chain straps are prohibited. Guests will be limited to one (1) clear bag per person. For more information, visit&nbsp;fedexforum.com/arena-policy-updates.

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2024-25 season tickets can do so now by going online togrizzlies.com/tickets.&nbsp;For more information on the Grizzlies, visit&nbsp;grizzlies.com,&nbsp;‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow@memgrizz&nbsp;on Twitter/X and Instagram.

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Memphis Grizzlies host Grizzlies Garage Sale benefiting St. Jude on Saturday, May 18

Open positions include Grizz Girls, Grannies & Grandpas, Blue Bunch, Grizzline, Claw Crew and Kings of the Court

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies will host open auditions throughout the summer as they search for the next performers to join their Live Entertainment teams for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Grizzlies Live Entertainment squads perform at Grizzlies home games and represent the team at promotional and community events in the Memphis area and regionally. An open casting call is out for performers of all ages and backgrounds for the following groups: Grizz Girls, outfitted by Varsity Spirit, Grannies & Grandpas, Blue Bunch, Claw Crew, Grizzline, presented by AutoZone, and the Kings of the Court. Fans who want to learn more about each Entertainment Team can go online to grizzlies.com/audition.  

GRIZZLIES LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TEAM AUDITIONS SCHEDULE:&nbsp;

Audition clinics and prep classes are available for interested applicants who want to learn the audition routines early for dance-specific tryouts, including Grizz Girls, Grannies & Grandpas and the Blue Bunch. Audition clinics allow attendees the opportunity to learn the audition choreography in advance. &nbsp;

DANCE TEAM CLINICS AND PREP CLASS SCHEDULE:&nbsp;

Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2024-25 Season Tickets can do so now by going online to grizzlies.com/tickets. For more information on the Grizzlies, visit grizzlies.com, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow @memgrizz on Twitter/X and Instagram.

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Casting Call: Memphis Grizzlies to hold auditions for All Live Entertainment Teams for 2024–25 Season

MEMPHIS – After scoring a career-high 44 points in the final game on the schedule to cap a late-season push for NBA All-Rookie team consideration, the last thing Grizzlies forward GG Jackson wanted was for the season to end.

The gregarious 19-year-old, who is the league’s youngest player, was having too much fun and success grinding through a rapid stretch of development.

“This has definitely opened up a new chapter,” Jackson insists as he eagerly eyes an offseason of increased opportunities. “And we’ve got to begin, you know, the next story. Now is where the real work begins because the stars are coming back. So, I’ve got to find exactly where do I fit? I believe I can fit for sure.”

That belief in Jackson permeates the franchise.

As the Grizzlies take inventory of a season that began with superstar Ja Morant’s 25-game NBA suspension and ended with a historic rash of injuries, they can also take solace in what was gained from a 27-55 campaign.

Atop that short list was the emergence of the Grizzlies’ last two second-round picks into first-rate rotation options as the team regroups for the 2024-25 season.

Second-year swingman Vince Williams Jr. parlayed his extended opportunities into a solidified role as Memphis’ breakout young prospect in the first half of the season. Then it was Jackson’s rapid ascension as a rookie down the stretch that allowed him to become one of the best developmental stories in the NBA.

By the time Jackson put the finishing touches on a 44-point outburst against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on April 14, the 6-foot-9 versatile forward ended the season as the NBA’s fourth-leading rookie scorer.

Not bad for a prospect whose jersey number reflects the slot where he was selected as the No. 45 pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. But Jackson used his first year in the league as a canvas to recreate the narrative around his fledgling NBA journey.

That ride started with Jackson’s rise as the nation’s top-rated prep prospects two years go. His reputation was then marred by a less-than-stellar freshman season at South Carolina, where his maturity and work ethic were questioned amid a steep slide on the draft board.

When the Grizzlies picked Jackson at No. 45, team president Zach Kleiman quickly cautioned that although supremely gifted, Jackson faced work ahead to mature on and off the court. Kleiman also insisted the Grizzlies would “give him the structure to do that.”

Having quickly progressed from a two-way G League deal to a four-year NBA contract, Jackson reflected at last week’s season exit interviews on his draft night vow to Kleiman.

“I still remember that phone call, when I was like, ‘I promise you, I’m not going to let you down; you did not make a mistake on this pick,’” Jackson recounted with gratitude following an encouraging rookie season. “Luckily, God moved me, and I showed it out on the court.”

Jackson is now ready to move into the next phases of improvement and impact.

In late May, he’ll be among a group of roster players who will return from a monthlong break to start voluntary offseason conditioning workouts. Those sessions will ramp up further in June as the Grizzlies embark on the NBA Draft, where they’re currently positioned to have a top-10 lottery pick as well as options in the second round.

From there, coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed, Jackson will help anchor the Grizzlies’ summer league team scheduled in July to compete in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

There were some questions as to whether Jackson’s extensive playing time late in the season against top NBA competition would negate his need for summer league. The Salt Lake City and Las Vegas leagues both feature games with mainly incoming rookie draft picks and undrafted free-agent prospects vying to make NBA rosters.

But Jenkins sees specific areas where Jackson can continue to expand his game well beyond what he displayed this season. Since moving up from the G League’s Memphis Hustle on Jan. 12, Jackson has played in 48 NBA games, including 18 starts.

Over his final 17 contests, Jackson averaged 19 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 33.2 minutes. Those 44 points against Denver in the season finale were the second-most points ever scored by a teenager in an NBA game.

And that was just the latest of many age-defying performances in which Jackson joined the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant to set NBA benchmarks for youth. Jenkins has challenged Jackson to work this summer on his shooting accuracy from various locations, his defensive technique and his vision and execution as a facilitator.

The notion is that Jackson will work more next season in a supporting role, likely off the bench, in a rotation anchored by a healthy Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart among others. Another offseason goal is for GG Jackson to beef up his 215-pound frame by adding seven-to-10 pounds of muscle definition.&nbsp;

“It's going to be a great opportunity for him, just continuing to expand his game,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, he's showcased so much this season. I mean, the kid's got so much potential but we want to see that potential realized. And the work doesn't stop. It's not just saying it, it's doing it. I think he's fired up about it.”

When Jackson was reminded during his press conference that he was expected to play in summer league, he immediately pumped his fist and smiled as if he just made a big shot.

He simply can’t wait to get started again.&nbsp;

Or, perhaps, just continue doing what he’s been doing. There’s no offseason for Jackson.

When you’re learning, growing and developing as fast as he is, it’s just on to the next task.

Relatively soon, he’ll be back in the gym again working out with trainers and assistant coaches such as Anthony Carter, considered in NBA circles as one of the league’s top player development gurus.

“When we start open runs and workouts, Coach A.C. already told me, ‘It’s going to be hard, but don’t look at it like punishment – you’re going to be guarding the best,’” Jackson said of his exit meeting with the coaching staff. “He wants to put me on Ja . . . and I’m definitely going to give Des a run for his money, for sure. It’s all about getting each other better.”

Jackson then let out a sheepish laugh, thinking of the possibilities and intensity awaiting. 

He’s still a teenager unafraid to let out his inner-child. It’s who he is – a big kid enjoying a game he’d play year-round for free, except he’s talented enough to rise to the highest level of the sport.

“Looking ahead to next year, GG’s opportunity will be whatever he’s ready for,” Kleiman assured yet again while balancing patience and the endless possibilities for Jackson’s continued growth. “We’re certainly going to continue to push GG and challenge him. We all see what he's capable of doing. How that role continues to grow . . . that'll play itself out.”

For now, Jackson impatiently awaits his next chance to keep playing.

The schedule reveals his rookie season has officially ended.

But the seasoning of his development is a process that never ceases.&nbsp;

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies breakout rook GG Jackson eager for next phase of NBA development

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