Grizzlies eye vacations, family time for All-star break
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a vacation planned for the Turks and Caicos Islands this month. It seemed like the perfect All-star break getaway being surrounded by water and leaving basketball behind.
Of course, those plans were scrapped when he was the final player named on TNT as an All-star reserve. Jackson didn’t mind, of course, since he accomplished his goal of making his first All-star team.
“It’s all for the best,” said Jackson. While Jackson and Ja Morant leave this weekend for Salt Lake City, their Memphis Grizzlies teammates will scatter to various plans before returning ahead of next Thursday’s game at the Philadelphia 76ers. Some have getaways planned like Brandon Clarke going home to Phoenix to enjoy his Playstation 5 and play “Hogwart’s Legacy,” a new game released last week inspired by the Harry Potter series.
Others, like Tyus Jones, will devote time to family. Jones is preparing to be a father for the second time as his wife Carrie is expected to give birth on Tuesday to their daughter.
“That’s our plan to lay low and play the waiting game. We’re extremely excited,” Jones said.
He’s also made sure his 2-year-son Tyus Jr. knows what to expect being a big brother. There’s still a lot he has to grasp but he’s seen signs around the house that he’ll have a sister. Now it’s just realizing he’s not exactly getting a new playmate, just yet.
“He knows a baby’s on the way, the nursery’s ready. He knows but I don’t think he fully understands what a newborn is able to do and not able to do,” Jones said. “He think she’s gonna come out playing basketball with him and all types of stuff, so it’ll be a good adjustment for him.”
Xavier Tillman Sr. planned to see family he hadn’t seen in a while but declined to say where he was headed. Desmond Bane is off to South Florida to spend time with his family, especially his newborn son.
Earlier this month, he said he wasn’t interested in a second consecutive trip to the 3-point contest because he wanted quality time with his son, who was born last year. He’ll watch the All-star game to check on Morant and Jackson but he’s eager to create more moments as a father.
“I haven’t had a bunch
one-on-one time with him especially since he started showing some personality and stuff. So I’m looking forward to it,” Bane said.
Coach Taylor Jenkins also has fatherly duties lined up. One of his sons is working on a school presentation so Jenkins is helping him plan it while giving tips on public speaking.
It might be easier than breaking down plays, but Jenkins knows coaching up his son will be a challenge to make sure he delivers a great speech.
“He’s got a lot of good thoughts, just want to give him the confidence to go out there and give a great speech,” Jenkins said. “He’s an entertainer so he’s got to channel this one a little differently for this project, but I think he’ll do great.”
Like Bane, most of the team will find time Sunday to watch the game and root for Jackson and Morant. It’s a unique moment for the franchise having two All-stars in the same season, so they’ll be cheering from afar.
Dillon Brooks also planned to watch the Rising Stars Challenge to support Kenneth Lofton Jr. But if it wasn’t for Morant and Jackson, he’d skip seeing the All-star game for reasons some fans might agree with.
“It’s Jaren’s first time, Ja’s in it. So I will watch it for them,” Brooks said. “I don’t care about any other guys. It’s pickup.”