Looking to mark a “fresh start” as he heads into his eighth NBA season, Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. recently announced a symbolic change: he will be switching his jersey number, Rohan Nadkarni of NBC News reports.
Jackson, who has donned the familiar number 13 since his rookie campaign in 2018/19, will now wear number 8 – a number with deep family significance, as his father once wore it during part of his NBA career.
“It’s super personal to me. It’s super personal to my family,” Jackson explained regarding the switch. “I’m connected with 8 in a real way. It reaches into the territory of new beginnings. It’s infinite. It’s just a good place to draw energy from.”
For Jackson, the change is more than a number – it’s a symbolic step toward renewal and a new chapter in his career.
The player’s number change will coincide with broader transitions for the Memphis franchise, which is aiming to bounce back after being swept in the playoffs by Oklahoma City.
Under new leadership, Tuomas Iisalo will take over as head coach, stepping in for Taylor Jenkins late last season. Meanwhile, the team is adjusting to the departure of Desmond Bane, Jackson’s teammate for the past five years, who was traded to Orlando in June.
“I wasn’t too much surprised,” Jackson said about Bane’s move. “I mean, when your brothers leave, you are still going to hurt, just because you’re a human being. But at the end of the day, it’s a business. And we’re grown.”
While the trade may have been difficult on a personal level, Jackson recognizes the professional realities of the NBA.
The resources freed by Bane’s departure were partly used to extend Jackson’s contract, locking him in with a five-year, $240 million deal and cementing his role as a cornerstone of the Grizzlies’ future.
With his former teammate gone, Jackson has embraced a larger leadership role, guiding younger players through a season of transitions and uncertainties.
“You’re going to get closer to your prime, and things are going to change for you,” he said. “I feel like this is a good starting point for a whole new journey of stuff. I’m approaching this year with that spearheaded, disciplined mindset of trying to get us to the promised land.”
Coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career – averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range – Jackson earned his second All-Star nod and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
With the Western Conference proving highly competitive, the Grizzlies will likely need Jackson to elevate his play even further this season, both on and off the court.
“Whoever’s in the locker room is in your foxhole, and that’s where you’re going to war with,” he said. “What are your habits? What are your techniques? Are you willing to share? Are you willing to talk? Who are the leaders? It’s simple, but it’s not easy.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. Changing Number As Part Of "Fresh Start" https://t.co/WRmKdwdro9 pic.twitter.com/VS4kVbzu2p
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) August 13, 2025
