In his visit to a Memphis public school on Tuesday, Grizzlies forward GG Jackson set the record straight on his matchup against LeBron James. After being told that James would “lock him up” on the court, Jackson responded by reminding the kids that he dropped 31 points in their last matchup against the Lakers.
“A kid just walked up and told GG Jackson that LeBron James would lock him up,” wrote Grizzlies beat writer Damichael Cole. “His response? ‘I gave him 31, bro.’”
The game in question goes back to April 12, when LeBron and the Lakers came to Memphis in the final days of the season. In 40 minutes, Jackson dropped 31 points on the Lakers with 1 rebound and 1 assist. What Jackson didn’t mention, however, was that he allowed LeBron to score 37 points that night, and the Grizzlies ended up losing the game by three.
So while LeBron didn’t put the locks on Jackson, he still dominated on the other end and it was enough for the Lakers to pull out a much-needed win and secure their place in the play-in tournament. In fact, LeBron has had the Grizzlies’ number over the past few years.
He led the Lakers to a 3-1 record over the franchise this season and that doesn’t count the NBA playoffs in 2023, when they beat the Grizzlies in six games to advance to the Western Semi-Finals. In short, while GG Jackson can claim individual success against the King, the Grizzlies haven’t been so lucky. With James committed to playing a few more years in the NBA, it seems the Grizzlies are not yet done dealing with the Lakers and all that LeBron brings to the table.
For Jackson’s sake, he better hope that LeBron doesn’t hear his latest quote or he may look to enact revenge the next time they meet on the court.
The Memphis Grizzlies Are Ready For A Comeback
Despite the best efforts of guys like GG Jackson, Desmond Bane, and others, the Grizzlies didn’t have enough to compete for the playoffs this season. They opened the season with Ja Morant’s suspension and it got them into a pretty large hole early on. They lost their first six games and were 4-13 by mid-November. By the time that Morant returned after 25 games, the Grizzlies were near the bottom of the standings with a very slim chance of making the top six.
Unfortunately, Morant got hurt after just nine games with a shoulder injury and the Grizzlies ruled him out for the season not long after. They finished the season at 27-55, good enough for 13th in the West behind the Jazz, Rockets, and Golden State Warriors.
For now, as the playoffs roll into the final rounds, there is nothing for the Grizzlies to do but watch and wait patiently until their moment arrives. With Morant, Brandon Clarke, and Steven Adams all scheduled to make their return in October, they will once again be at full strength and they have confidence that their group can win it all if they stay healthy.
Obviously, the Grizzlies still have a lot to prove, and the basketball world will be watching to see if GG Jackson can back up his big talk about LeBron.
