Jaren Jackson Jr. came back to Memphis on Wednesday night and got treated like a hometown favorite before the Utah Jazz ever settled into their season-opening game. The first time he was announced in the starting lineup against the Memphis Grizzlies, FedExForum answered with loud cheers and a standing ovation.
That reception fit the scene around the building. Fans wore jerseys of Ja Morant and Jackson before the game, and the night carried the feel of a reunion as much as an NBA basketball game. For Jackson, it was his first game against the Grizzlies since being traded from Memphis to Utah last season, which made the return instantly personal and immediately easy to notice.
Andy Malml said he was not rooting for the Jazz, but he was rooting for Jaren, a sentiment that matched what Zuleyma Barreto felt from her seat and in her conversation with Jackson a day earlier. Barreto said she met with him on Tuesday and called him very special to her and her family. She added that Jackson and his mother had opened doors for her, that they were welcoming and respectful, and that the family loved having him back. Jackson sounded just as moved, saying, “It’s tough,” and later adding that Brandon Clarke was “my brother forever.”
The Grizzlies also honored Clarke during the game, a tribute that deepened the emotion around Jackson’s return. Jackson said Clarke had a great impact on the community and described the video tribute as a great memory, while adding, “He’s my dog, who’s forever watching us.” Clarke died in May 2026, and the moment gave the night an edge that went beyond the score and the jerseys in the stands.
On the floor, though, the homecoming did not turn into a comeback story. Jackson fouled out after 28 minutes, finished with five turnovers and scored 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting, while the Utah Jazz lost 123-103. He said he had memories for sure coming back to a place, but also that he had a job to do and did not execute that.
What stays with Jackson now is not just the noise from the crowd or the loss. It is the reminder that Memphis still sees him as one of its own, even when he is wearing another uniform, and that the next chapter of this return will be measured by how quickly he can leave the emotion behind. Jackson said it plainly: “Got to go home and regroup.”
