Jaren Jackson Jr.’s trade to the Utah Jazz was one of the major moves made during the 2026 NBA trade deadline. The former Defensive Player of the Year was regarded as the anchor for a young Memphis Grizzlies unit but was dealt for a massive haul, ending a storied 8-year stint in Memphis.
With this being the first time Jackson was traded in his career, he admitted it took him some time to process the shock and has now penned a long and heartfelt message for the Grizzlies and fans.
Jaren Jackson Jr. Shares Emotional Goodbye to the Memphis Grizzlies After Blockbuster Trade
Jackson’s trade to Utah, along with John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr., saw Memphis net Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three future first-round picks in return.
It was a significant haul and a trade Jackson said he had anticipated. But when the moment finally arrived, he said it was overwhelming. In a farewell message published on The Players’ Tribune, Jackson admitted he was stunned when the general manager, Zach Kleiman, delivered the news.
“When the conversation ended I was just awkwardly looking around all confused like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction,” Jackson wrote. “Like, Well, what now? I literally asked him, “Can I go back upstairs and say bye?” Like he was gonna press a button, and the trap door was gonna open up.”
The 26-year-old shared that he later ran into Ja Morant, who offered words he would never forget.
“‘You been a pro for eight years, just continue to be that.’ That right there??? Man that really just put the whole thing into perspective,” Jackson wrote.
Selected fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, Jackson quickly became a cornerstone of the franchise. When Morant arrived in 2019, the duo helped usher in a new era in Memphis. By 2022, the Grizzlies were widely viewed as an emerging championship contender.
“It all started when Jae Crowder hit that game winner off Ja’s pass, one of the first home games in Ja’s rookie year. That was when we knew. He went coast to coast, went behind the back and then passed, and we realized, Oh my God. And it was just that first big pop in the arena. The whole building stood up, and you could just feel what was coming,” Jackson recalled.
Although the franchise has since unraveled and is now in a rebuilding phase, Jackson emphasized that his time in Memphis will always hold a special place in his heart.
“At the end of the day, I just want y’all to know that Memphis was home to me. And everything I did here was from the bottom of my heart. When it came to how I showed up, I wasn’t just doing things for the community — I was a part of it. I loved giving back.”
After expressing gratitude to the community, fans, teammates, and the organization, Jackson concluded, “Memphis, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This journey meant the world to me. I wrote this for you. It’s love forever, Trip J.”
Over eight seasons in Memphis, Jackson averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. He earned two All-Star selections and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
