Grizzly secrets revealed during Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bain’s hilarious podcast

The The Memphis Grizzlies have a winning recipe it goes by the NBA standings and how the locker room sounds even after a loss. Ja Morant’s dunks attract the most attention but Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane they have been shaping culture not so quietly for years. The duo delved deep into their friendship and team in a recent appearance on the Young Man and the Three podcast.

Bane explained why to the Grizzlies they match so well before the road game against the Houston Rockets.

“I think it’s the ego that sidelines them,” Bain said. “I think if you have your guys at the top that aren’t associated with the stats and the accolades and the accolades, it’s like it’s easier for everyone else to fall in line.” It’s easy to be happy about other people’s success.”

It helps that Memphis is the kind of city that is “no distractions” for the team, according to Bane.

The conversation can skip with The Grizzlies are grumbling about the losses to a good place for dinner quickly. Then we go back on a Rookie of the Year tangent honoring Jalen Wells and Zach Eddy. Wells is known as Jay Murda because he kills the other team’s offense.

(Wells) keeps the best player every game,” Jackson Jr. began, “and that’s such a rare thing that a rookie has to deal with. He does it very casually and I don’t think I’ve talked to him about what he thinks about it…He has to guard the playoffs the way we set up.”

Everyone has been a rookie at some point. Jackson Jr. recalled fellow Michigan State commit Draymond Green calling during the pre-draft process. Jackson Jr. has already enrolled in some other years with the intention of putting the NBA on hold for a year. He wasn’t in the conversation for the top pick, but he finally saw some mock drafts with lottery grades.

A number appeared on the screen that Jackson Jr. didn’t recognize. It was Green with a simple question and a one-word opinion about Jackson Jr.’s plans.

“How high (in the draft) do you want to go?” Green asked. “Idiot.”

Bane had to laugh. It was a heartfelt interaction between teammates who had been friends for years.

“I met Des when I blocked his shot,” Jackson Jr. joked. “(It was) in Indiana…”

“I knew about him before all of this…” Bane cut him off.

“He’s aged a bit…” Jackson Jr. shot back.

“I hate that guy Jaren.” He’s just this tall, skinny guy with a pale face that’s so low you can’t even tell if he has hair or not. Blocking shots,” Bane replied. “(Jackson Jr.) is at Tudor Park in Ind., so nobody really knows he plays at a 2A school. Transfers to La Lumiere, guy shows up here and there, now at Michigan State…

“He was 6-foot-9, skinny, the jump shot looks funky, and I don’t know what he’s good at yet,” Bain sighed. “It was crazy.”

Jackson Jr. wanted more credit for pre-production and styling.

“I feel like I was able to do it when I was underpriced, but nobody cared because I was at a 2A school,” Jackson Jr. admitted. “I played JV my freshman year. Then we are highly ranked. You will be ranked…”

Well, both Bane and Jackson Jr. were ranked, and then a few years later were invited to the NBA draft stage.

As for what Jackson Jr. knew about Bane going into that first pitch battle?

Bane yelled “Nothing!” before ‘Trip’ could muster a response.

“I had blinders on,” Jackson Jr. said. “If you’re not in my class or one of these schools on the block, I didn’t worry about it.”

Now they are more concerned with what they can control in Memphis. These Grizzlies were too cocky for Bain and Jackson Jr. The trash talk was constant, but now everyone understands the task. Waiting to unleash that aggression during the postseason is a better use of energy.

“(Our trash talk) is more controlled,” Bain said. “(Now it’s) tame (compared to previous seasons)”

The podcast was an hour-long mess that moves faster than Ja Morant driving through a lane. Bane might drive traffic to the outlet more often. The host teased that Bane will be working more on the ThreeFourTwo network, giving editors plenty of job security.