LAS VEGAS – For Jaren Jackson Jr., Team USA is a legacy play.
It’s essentially history in the making.
It’s the culmination of lifelong relationships established since birth, the evolution from a child basketball prodigy into one of the NBA’s most talented big men, and the commitment to continue representing his country on the global basketball stage.
“It’s definitely not something you take for granted,” Jackson insisted. “You try to keep getting better. You get to rep your country. You get to work on your game. I’ve been in the program.”
Those are among many reasons Jackson is especially programmed for this assignment.
When USA’s 12-man World Cup roster opens its weeklong training camp in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jackson will not only return to familiar territory – he’ll be a decorated defensive catalyst anchoring a promising collection of young and rising NBA stars.
Four years ago, Jackson was in Vegas with USA’s Select Team of young NBA stars who practiced against the senior National team that ultimately won gold at the 2020 Olympics in Japan. And back in 2016, Jackson played with Team USA’s youth club that captured gold at the FIBA Men’s Under-17 World Championship in Spain.
What’s been a remarkable basketball progression now places the Grizzlies’ star power forward and NBA reigning Defensive Player of the Year on the cusp of his next global mission. Team USA plays in the FIBA World Cup later this month for an automatic bid to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The Grizzlies will be well-represented in the FIBA tournament, which runs Aug. 25 through Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. As an NBA All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year and two-time, first-team All-Defensive team selection at just 24 years old, Jackson is one of the most accomplished players on a revamped USA team that enters FIBA ranked second in the world.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s frontcourt teammate in Memphis will make his senior national team debut on a Spain squad that currently sits atop the FIBA world standings. Grizzlies power forward Santi Aldama has spent the past month training overseas in preparation for Spain’s tournament run with a team that also features several NBA standouts.
Aldama is continuing a legacy of his own that has international ties to Memphis. The third-year power forward grew up in Spain idolizing Grizzlies legends Pau and Marc Gasol, who have been icons on the Spanish national team for parts of three decades.
When Aldama learned he would be headed to Memphis as the final pick in the first round of the 2020 Draft, it was a moment of enormous personal and national pride to join the same franchise as his heroes. Now, he’ll also carry his native country’s national banner in FIBA.
A highlight experience for both Jackson and Aldama will come well before the official FIBA Wold Cup games start. Team USA and Spain face off in an exhibition on Aug. 13 in Spain as both nations work through a series of tune-up games leading into the start of tournament pool play. Grizzlies’ president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman plans to travel to Spain for that game.
Aldama is coming off a career season in which he made 20 starts and played in 77 games. He approaches his role with Spain in FIBA as a chance to expand his game, both alongside and against the best competition in the world. And that includes a now-nemesis in Jackson.
“This is all just in general for my growth,” said Aldama, who averaged nearly 10 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes a game last season with the Grizzlies. “It’s just a learning opportunity. I need to put on some pounds, get bigger, quicker and stronger overall. I’ve got to get to the best version of myself and help my teammates in as many ways as possible, play multiple positions.”
At a recent appearance at his youth basketball camp in Memphis, Jackson insisted half-jokingly he won’t hesitate to go at Aldama as aggressively as any opponent when they match up.
“(Aldama) is on that (other) side right now,” Jackson deadpanned. “He knows how I feel.”
Both Jackson and Aldama are positioned to emerge from the FIBA World Cup in peak condition, with the Grizzlies scheduled to open training camp three weeks after the medal round games.
Along the way, Team USA plays a five-game exhibition slate against Puerto Rico (Aug. 7 in Las Vegas), Slovenia and Spain (Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 in Spain), and then Greece and Germany (Aug. 18 and Aug. 20) in Abu Dhabi. The American team then travels to the Philippines for official FIBA group games, starting against New Zealand (Aug. 26), Greece (Aug. 28) and Jordan (Aug. 30).
Spain, the defending 2019 FIBA World Cup champions, open exhibition play Saturday against Venezuela and Slovenia (Aug. 11) before tune-ups against USA (Aug. 13), Canada (Aug. 17) and the Dominican Republic (Aug. 19). Aldama and Spain will then be based in Indonesia for official FIBA group play against Cote D’Ivoire, Brazil and Iran.
USA Basketball coaches and executives have described Jackson as a tailor-made fit for the current national team and the style of play it’ll face on the international level.
There’s a collection of rangy and productive guards in Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) and Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves). There are athletic and versatile players on the wing in Mikal Bridges (Nets), Cam Johnson (Nets), Josh Hart (Knicks), Austin Reaves (Lakers) and Brandon Ingram (Pelicans). And Jackson will be part of a power rotation up front that includes Walker Kessler (Jazz), Bobby Portis (Bucks) and Paolo Banchero (Magic).
Jackson, who led the NBA in blocked shots last season, will benefit from the relaxed international defensive rules. Unlike the NBA, there are no rules for defensive three-second violations or goaltending with the ball in the cylinder.
Basketball Hall of Famer and Team USA managing director Grant Hill said he had a specific set of players in mind when building the current roster. Jackson, he assured, checked off many boxes. Jackson is one of nine players on the roster with at least some USA Basketball experience, although none has played in a FIBA World Cup or Olympics.
Because of that, Hill considers this a team full of “rookies” who must quickly learn and gel. But he values the quality of player and person representing each roster spot. And that includes Jackson, who has a history with Team USA’s top brass.
Both Hill and Team USA coach Steve Kerr played with Jackson’s father in the NBA. Kerr won a championship alongside Jaren Jackson Sr. on the Spurs title team in 1999. Hill was with the Orlando Magic when Jackson Sr. wrapped up his final NBA season in 2001-02.
“We were very thoughtful, very deliberate, very intentional about putting together the pieces to the puzzle,” Hill told the Associated Press last month. “It was not easy, but I think we got the desired result. We’re very pleased with the roster, the versatility, the complementary parts. Now, we’ve got a bigger hurdle to attempt to cross as a collective unit.”
Jackson’s priorities are in order. He resumed individual workouts soon after the No. 2-seeded Grizzlies were stunned by the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It left a bitter taste with Jackson, who will enter the 2023-24 season as the longest-tenured Grizzlies player.
Building on his game now gives him a chance to first elevate his country in the FIBA World Cup. And then comes the task of pushing the Grizzlies firmly back into the NBA’s championship mix.
“Pretty much everything is dictated around that,” Jackson said of preparing his game and his mindset for Team USA’s challenge ahead of the NBA season. “I’ve built my schedule through it.”
This pursuit has been years in the making.
For Jackson and Team USA, the gold is the ultimate goal.
“Anything less,” Jackson assured, “we don’t want it.”