Memphis Grizzlies Star Receives Special Honor

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Impressing his Team USA peers, Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. was named the best player of training camp by an informal poll conducted by The Athletic.
"It was a campaign of action, not words. There were a number of worthy candidates who made their case as the top member of Team USA over four days on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, but the end result was a landslide," Joe Vardon of The Athletic wrote. "By a vote of his peers, Jaren Jackson Jr. was selected the 'best,' or 'most impressive' or 'stand out' player of the now-completed FIBA training camp, according to an informal poll by The Athletic of the entire Team USA roster, Jackson included."
This is a special honor for Jackson to receive, because while NBA players are so often critiqued and evaluated by the media, it's reasonable to assume they hold the opinions of their peers in higher regard. Viewed by his peers as the most impressive player at Team USA's FIBA World Cup training camp, Jackson was clearly a standout amongst other NBA stars.
The Grizzlies are hopeful that Jackson can take another leap forward next season after winning the Defensive Player of the Year award last season. Memphis will have to rely on Jackson even more in the absence of Ja Morant to begin next year, which is something he looks to be ready for.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.