Ja Morant Thought JJJ Would Get Bigger Contract, 'I Don't Understand the Cap Stuff'

Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a massive five-year, $250 million contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, a pact that will keep him under contract through at least the 2028-29 season (with a player option for 2029-30).

His teammate, Ja Morant, believes Jackson is worth even more.

"He deserves it," he told Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "That's the heart of Memphis, the heart of this team. I feel like he deserves it. I thought it would have been way more, honestly. I don't understand the cap stuff."

Jackson, 25, is a two-time All-Star and the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year. Last season he averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.

He and Morant form a strong one-two punch for the Grizzlies. The team reworked its supporting cast around them this offseason, trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic while adding players like veteran guards Ty Jerome and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Cedric Coward, among others.

Expectations remain high in Memphis, centered around the Morant and Jackson pairing.