Ja Morant's shoes, Jaren Jackson Jr.'s fits: Memphis Grizzlies guide to NBA All-Star weekend

For the first time in Memphis Grizzlies franchise history, the team will have two All-Stars in the same game with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the roster Sunday (7:30 p.m., TNT) in Salt Lake City.

It'll be Morant's second consecutive start, while Jackson is making his first All-Star appearance. It comes three seasons after both played in the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2020 All-Star Game.

So what should fans expect this week in Utah? Here's five things to watch for as Morant and Jackson enjoy All-Star weekend.

Ja Morant shoe debut?

All-Star weekend isn't just about the game, it's about style, marketing and other events. So it's no surprise that Morant hinted he'll debut a never-before-seen colorway for Ja 1 Nike shoes on Sunday.

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It'll continue a tradition where the All-Star games see players promote exclusive shoe designs. Given that Morant's first signature shoe will be released in April, it's a great way to build up more hype with Morant as one of Nike's young, fresh faces. Also keep an eye out for new Morant commercials unveiled during the weekend.

As for Jackson, he's already planned multiple outfits each day. He's one of the NBA's most stylish players so he's ready to use his first All-Star weekend to make a statement off the court, too.

Will Morant, Jackson be on the same team?

The All-Star teams, captained by LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, will be chosen before tipoff. Grizzlies fans will no doubt be curious if Morant and Jackson end up on the same or different teams.

As a starter, Morant will be one of the first players chosen. The duo joked about what could happen if they're not on the same squad. Morant wasn't afraid to challenge Jackson for a potential dunk opportunity and Jackson wanted the challenge of trying to stop Morant.

At the same time, Morant has said he wants to be on the same team as Jackson. So will there be a Grizzlies All-Star alley-oop team-up? Or a Morant-Jackson showdown in the post or at the rim?

Will Morant have a better All-Star performance?

Last season, Morant had six points and three assists in his first All-Star game. He had a couple of highlight dunks, but was relegated to a cameo role on Team Durant.

That should change this year. Morant is more established as a star and he'll want to assert himself a bit more. Whether he's on Team Giannis or Team LeBron, expect Morant to score more, and perhaps create more highlights, in Salt Lake City.

How many minutes will Jackson play?

At the same time, Jackson might be the latest first-time All-Star to catch a freeze-out. Rookie participants usually don't get much chance to shine and they're mostly spectators by the fourth quarter if the game is close.

All-Star games also aren't known for defense so Jackson might not get a chance to show off why he's the "Block Panther." But since Jackson's been more aggressive looking to score, perhaps he'll remind NBA observers of his 3-point shooting while also showing off his improved post game.

What will Kenneth Lofton Jr. do in the Rising Stars Game?

Morant and Jackson aren't the only Grizzlies representatives in Salt Lake City. Rookie Kenneth Lofton Jr. will participate Friday (7 p.m., TNT) in the Jordan Rising Stars Game on a team of NBA G-League players coached by Jason Terry.

Lofton will be on one of four teams participating in a three-game mini tournament. A lot of the focus on Team Jason will be on Scoot Henderson, the likely No. 2 pick in June's upcoming NBA Draft, but Lofton's earned a cult following for dominating with the Hustle. It's another chance to see how Lofton stands up against some of his young peers in the league.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant shoes part of Memphis Grizzlies NBA All-Star Weekend guide