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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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Memphis Grizzlies star center Jaren Jackson Jr. will stay with the team for the foreseeable future.
Jackson is expected to sign a five-year, $240 million maximum renegotiation and extension.
ESPN's Shams Charania shared the news via X.
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The two-time All-Star's contract includes a player option until the final year of the contract in the 2029-30 season.
The extension with Jackson was the biggest thing on the Grizzlies' plate, and they got it done within the first hour of NBA free agency.
The 25-year-old is fresh off another standout campaign, earning his second All-Star nod while continuing to lead the way for the Grizzlies. He made history last season, becoming the only player to tally at least 1,500 points and 100 blocks—cementing his status as one of the league's most versatile big men.
Jackson extended his unprecedented streak with a fourth consecutive season of 100+ threes and 100+ blocks—the longest such run in NBA history.
More Grizzlies news: Grizzlies Star Ja Morant Addresses Trade Speculation Amid NBA Finals
Across 74 appearances, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and an impressive 37.5 percent from deep in just under 30 minutes per night.
Not only did the Grizzlies lock in their franchise big man with a long-term extension, but they also secured the return of rising forward Santi Aldama.
The former No. 30 overall pick from the 2021 NBA Draft has agreed to a new three-year, $52.5 million deal to stay in Memphis.
Aldama, who spent his entire rookie contract with the Grizzlies, is coming off a breakout campaign in which he averaged 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game—mainly in a reserve role. With his new contract, Aldama is set to earn roughly $17.5 million annually as he continues to grow into a key contributor for Memphis.
Jackson is viewed as a centerpiece for the Grizzlies moving forward, and he has proven that to be the case in the last handful of seasons. This upcoming season, Jackson will enter his eighth season with the Grizzlies. He was selected No. 4 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
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