The Memphis Grizzlies’ annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. will be different this year. Most of the events will be virtual because of COVID-19 and the Grizzlies will have only a few fans at the nationally televised game on MLK Day. The team will also be without its two young stars, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant.
But as part of this year’s MLK Weekend festivities – hosted by the Grizzlies; the National Civil Rights Museum; the city of Memphis, Tennessee; and Shelby County – Jackson participated in a conversation about race and sports that was facilitated by The Undefeated.
Jackson suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in August while the Grizzlies were in the NBA’s bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida. He said he will not only miss the joy of playing in the MLK Day game, but the energy that comes to Memphis as people would normally attend the celebration and visit the National Civil Rights Museum.
“I just love how it brings the whole city together,” Jackson, 21, said in his first public comments since having knee surgery in August. “It was just joy, fans of the game, it was packed, people tailgating. People go through in the morning, they’ll wake up, be with…
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