Jaren Jackson Jr. is active in the N.B.A. players’ union. His mother, Terri, works for the W.N.B.A. players’ union. When he was elected vice president, she did her best not to embarrass him
The National Basketball Association’s players are represented by the National Basketball Players Association, whose members are a collection of adult millionaires whose mothers typically do not show up to union meetings.
But Terri Jackson isn’t like other NBA moms. Since she also heads the Women’s National Basketball Association’s players’ union, she was invited to the National Basketball Association’s players’ union’s winter meeting in February. The nomination of her son, Memphis Grizzlies guard Jaren Jackson Jr., to a union vice presidency came as she was finalizing the presentation she was going to give.
He spoke to his coworkers for a few minutes without preparation, explaining that he hoped to help close the gap between veteran players and up-and-comers like himself. He felt it was his turn to step up and take charge, he added.
Terri Jackson was so impressed with his maturity that she wanted to clap when he was done, she said. Instead, she kept her hands behind the screen of her laptop, clenched tightly lest she disgrace her son, now 23. She threw her arms in the air in joy when he was declared the winner.
Jackson Jr. continued a family legacy of dedication to player unions and the sport’s future by taking on the role of union vice president. His father, Jaren Jackson Sr., was a role player in the NBA from 1989 to 2002 and a union member.
Jackson Jr. has already accomplished more than his father did in his entire NBA career. He was the finest defensive player in the NBA last season, and his Memphis Grizzlies finished in the top three in the Western Conference.
Jackson Jr., when asked about his union engagement, stated, “If you love the game, that’s what you’re really doing for.” “I want kids growing up, whether my kids or other people’s kids, to have a good foundation when they grow up and want to play in the league,” he says.
Jaren Jr.’s passion for labor concerns has been predetermined almost from the moment he was conceived. His father, a former NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs, gave birth to him while the league was on strike in 1999.
Jaren Sr., whose father was a longshoreman in New Orleans and thus a union member, was a free agent waiting for the Spurs to re-sign him during the lockout.
The likes of Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Mitch Richmond were regulars at the negotiation meetings he flew to New York for.
It was a difficult period for me,” Jaren Senior stated. “I sat there and listened to these guys, you know, drop F-bombs all over the place, and talk about these players getting paid, and owners making this money,” the author explains, “when I wasn’t sure about my future.”
In addition, Terri Jackson comes from a long line of union supporters. She reminisces about the time her lawyer father advocated for increased teacher compensation in front of the school board.
“When I consider being the executive director for the W players, all I can say is, you know, a little bit: ‘Wow. As Terri Jackson put it, “my dad would be so proud of this” (or “he is so proud of this”). And his grandkid is a union official? That’s incredible.
She and Jaren Sr. both earned their undergraduate degrees and law degrees from Georgetown University. She worked as a legal counsel and then as an associate general counsel at the University of the District of Columbia.
In 2012, Terri and her family relocated to Indiana for a job at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, where Terri would rise to the position of director of law, policy, and governance. While Jaren Jr. was still in high school, she became executive director of the W.N.B.P.A. in 2016 and has since spearheaded campaigns for increased salary and greater maternity benefits for players.
Due to his parents’ work, Jaren Jr. moved around frequently, forcing him to swiftly adjust to new environments and people.
His parents have said they encouraged him to take part in activities and to feel at ease in new social situations.
He was always taller than his classmates, so he quickly picked up on how to make his friends feel at ease. Sharing toys in the sandbox at age 4 led to advocating for them in class and eventually student council when he was in high school.
Considering how lucky you are and how much you have achieved, Terri urged you to consider how you may pay it forward by getting involved in the lives of those around you.
Students elected him to office, where he learned to communicate with and advocate for his fellow students.
In addition, he honed his public speaking and performance skills, which he later put to use in the NBA. He used to put up dance shows at summer camps with his pals. Jaren Sr. vividly remembers his son’s hip-hop performance when he was about 14 or 15 years old.
Jaren Sr. remarked, “I’m not allowed to show the video to anyone.” To contrast, “But he did a magnificent job.”
His father, Jaren Sr., was an undrafted player who eventually made it to the NBA and played a significant part for the Spurs during their championship season.
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Already nearly seven feet tall, Jaren Jr. was a highly sought-after recruit straight out of high school.
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After spending a single year on the college basketball roster at Michigan State, he was picked fourth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018.
Jackson’s early years were marred by injuries, but his skill was obvious even then. Jackson has emerged as a key figurehead for the Grizzlies, who are a very youthful club overall.
Despite missing the first 14 games of the 2022–23 season due to surgery, he was named the league’s defensive player of the year.
He heard about it when TNT analyst Ernie Johnson mentioned it on air. Jackson relaxed at home, a basketball nestled between his knees. Terri, who was standing next to Johnson, began cheering as soon as he called out his name.
“WOOOOOOO! Yes! She said, “Yes! Yes!” as Jaren Jr. smiled and covered his eyes.
Saying, “I just like to chill be quiet and relax,” Jaren Jr. said, “but she’s — you let your mom enjoy those moments.”
She didn’t have to hide her happiness behind a computer screen this time.
Jaren Jr. made it clear to his peers that he had a lot to learn when they elected him to the vice presidency of the N.B.P.A. He says he does what he can to make sure his teammates know about and can access the union’s negotiated benefits.
He has helped his teammate Ja Morant, who was suspended for 25 games for a series of films posted to social media, deal with the league’s punishment. When pressed for more information, Jaren Jr. simply said, “that’s his business.”
He had tried to be active in the union prior to being elected to the executive committee, but now that he is a member, he had to devote more time to union business.
“It’s a lot,” Jaren Jr. You’re like a big brother to the league, and you have to protect it.
He has claimed that the more seasoned players in the union’s leadership roles have been helpful to him as he has learned the ins and outs of the league’s financial operations.
He also has two additional people he can rely on who have worked in sports league unions for a long time in the form of his parents. However, Jaren Jr. rarely does this at present. Lessons from the past are deeply ingrained, therefore family time is usually spent doing things together.