“I’m just excited to be back. It was just about taking my time. I’m ready. Everything else will follow on its own.”
The end of the tunnel is getting closer for Jaren Jackson Jr. The interior was still seen on the sidelines of the Grizzlies game in Washington on Sunday night, training hard and chaining exercises, until planting a basket from the middle of field at the end of its session!
Every day brings JJJ, a victim of a broken foot during the off-season, closer to a return to the courts. It remains to be seen whether this will take place tonight on the field of New Orleans, or Friday at home for the reception of the Thunder. Since yesterday, he is in any case listed as “questionable” (uncertain) for the first time this season on the last “injury report” of the Grizzlies.
His coach Taylor Jenkins for his part expressed his satisfaction with the evolution of his player over the past few days, especially since his return to training for the five-on-five sessions.
“He’s had some really good training all season, and he’s really getting closer. His five-on-five training sessions have gone really well, and now it’s all about working against the schedule, finding those opportunities as he ramps up.”, did he declareunderlining the seriousness with which Jaren Jackson Jr. worked to return. “He was just phenomenal. He does everything step by step and there has been no regression. We want it to continue like this as he gets closer and closer to a comeback.”
If the decision as to the timing of his return is now in the hands of the medical staff, the latter has given the green light to Ja Morant, injured in the ankle, to find the group. The leader will therefore be in uniform tonight. Touched in a toe, Desmond Bane should however remain on the sidelines for a second game in a row.