NBA refutes wild internet conspiracy theory about home scoring for Jaren Jackson Jr.
The NBA had to spend its Saturday refuting an internet conspiracy theory that Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is benefitting from home scoring, which is in turn boosting his resume for defensive player of the year.
The whole thing started with a Reddit post taking an extremely deep dive into Jackson's home-road splits and how there is a dramatic difference that did not exist in previous seasons. The argument goes on to say that Jackson is getting credit for blocks and steals at home that should be going to other Grizzlies players.
He is averaging 4.1 blocks and 1.3 steals per game at home, versus 2.1 blocks and 0.7 steals on the road.
The NBA was quick to point out that all statistics are independently audited and any changes that need to be made are corrected immediately.
Still not convinced?
Well, how about a couple of NBA analysts, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and ESPN's Kirk Goldsberry, watching all 66 of Jacksons' home blocks and coming to the same conclusion that there really is not anything nefarious going on here?
There are a couple of things happening here that make things like this possible. The first is the Internet itself. The beauty of it is that it gives everybody a voice to share their opinions and put them out into the universe. That same thing is also its greatest curse as it gives everybody their voice to shout out their great conspiracy.
The other is the rise of sports betting and gambling in professional sports, resulting in every little detail and play being put under the microscope.
This just might be those two worlds colliding together.
Jackson is simply one of the NBA's best defensive players and his home-road split is probably just a weird coincidence that will balance out with a larger sampling of games. That is the simplest and most logical explanation.
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