Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. has been named the 2022-23 NBA defensive player of the year, the league announced on Monday night. Jaren led the league in blocks at 3.0 per game and won against Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.
The 23-year-old becomes the second youngest DPOY. Jackson mustered 56 out of 100 first-place votes and 391 total points to take the honor.
Jackson also becomes the second Memphis player to receive the Hakeem Olajuwon trophy after Marc Gasol, who won it a decade ago.
The youngster finished ahead of runner-up Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, who got 31 first-place votes and 309 points. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley — who is playing his second NBA season — was third with eight first-place votes and 101 points.
“Team defense really helps us. It goes a long way,” Jackson said on the TNT broadcast that announced the award.
“Hands down, no-brainer, JJ’s definitely defensive player of the year,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said earlier this month.
Taylor Jenkins gave credit to Jackson for helping the team defensively after missing the first 15 matches due to injury.
“He missed the first (15) games of the year. We were really bad defensively,” Jenkins said. “He comes back into the lineup and things turn the corner drastically.”
Jackson gave credit to the team’s think tank for his success in the defensive unit.
“They’ve instilled the confidence in me to be aggressive offensively — but really unleash me defensively to go out there and do whatever,” Jackson said.
Jackson was at his best in the regular season and played a key role in helping Memphis Grizzlies finish at the second spot in the Western Conference standings. However, Grizzles suffered a 128-112 loss against Los Angeles Lakers in the opening game of the first round of the playoffs.
