The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t leave a very positive impression last season despite finishing the regular season with the second best record in the league. The excitement their young and passionate squad was supposed to create among fans was antagonized by the unnecessary antics of some Grizzlies players. However, Jaren Jackson Jr. seemed like an oasis among all the negativity in the team after he won the 2022-23 Defensive player of the Year, averaging a staggering 3 blocks per game. Amidst adulations from all around the league, the 23-year-old recently revealed that his defensive skills stem from NBA 2K, the most popular basketball game in the market, that racks up $5,400,000,000 in annual revenue.
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During an appearance on Paul George’s ‘Podcast P with Paul George’ last month, JJJ addressed a lot of things. He stood beside his star teammate Ja Morant, who faced a major suspension for an undecided number of games at the time. Morant ended up getting a 25-game suspension for brandishing a gun for a second time on social media. However, six weeks after supporting Morant on PG’s podcast, Jaren Jackson Jr. shocked commentators during a recent Grizzlies-Lakers Summer League game after revealing that playing 2K has helped him win the 2023 DPOY.
Jaren Jackson Jr. reveals how NBA 2K improved his defensive game
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the league in blocks this season. He also ended up blocking 46% of the shots he attempted to block at the rim, as per NBA University. JJJ not only served as an effective rim protector throughout the season, but he locked down elite scorers and helped the Grizzlies to the second seed in the West despite missing out on the first 15 games of the season due to a surgery in right foot.
During an interview in the middle of the Summer League game, the 2023 NBA All-Star shocked commentators by saying, “I always will say my timing[to block shots] came from 2K, playing a lot of 2K…Yeah, video games definitely helped me win [the DPOY].”
During his appearance on Podcast P with Paul George last month, JJJ explained this in detail. As it turns out, 2K helped him master his instinct and timing, trying to find a sweet spot to swat the shots away. Jackson Jr. further explained that the key is to be patient and wait for the play to unfold before finding your spot.
Julius Randle corroborates JJJ’s view on NBA 2K
Meanwhile, Julius Randle appeared on Paul George’s podcast after JJJ. The Knicks star agreed that 2K does indeed improve one’s game.
If not anything else, the game increases the creativity of players to make or block tough shots. However, Randle admitted that he doesn’t play 2K, but understands how the video game impacts a player’s psyche.
