Memphis, Tenn. • If you took a stroll around FedExForum before the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies’ season-opening game on Wednesday night, one thing would stand out.

Most of the jerseys fans wore weren’t of current Grizzlies players, but of two former stars: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson.

For Jackson, Wednesday was a homecoming. It was his first time actually playing against his old team since he was traded from Memphis to Utah last season.

Fans were excited, wearing every color of his jerseys, from classic Grizzlies blue to old-school teal and even some red.

The matchup also put a couple of young fans in a tough spot when it came to rooting interest. After all, Jackson was one of the city’s former stars. They’d grown up watching him. Some had even met him.

“I’m not rooting for the Jazz, but we are rooting for Jaren,” a young fan named Andy Malml told The Salt Lake Tribune.

For others, it was Jaren Jackson supremacy, even if it meant the Grizzlies lost.

Zuleyma Barreto, a 33-year-old woman who worked on Jackson’s house staff when he lived in Memphis, said she met with Jackson on Tuesday.

“He’s a very special person to me and my family,” Barreto said. “Him and his mother have opened doors for me; they are very welcoming and treat everyone with respect. That’s what we love about him.

“We love Jaren … we’re happy to have him back."

That sentiment was common around the arena on Wednesday. Fans gave Jackson loud cheers and a standing ovation when he was announced in the starting lineup.

It was an emotional night for Jackson in many ways. The Grizzlies also paid tribute to Brandon Clarke, who died in May. Clarke was a close friend and former teammate of Jackson.

“It’s tough,” Jackson said. “That’s my brother forever. He had a great impact on the community here. It’s always going to be tough. Just carry it differently. Great video, though. Great memory. He’s my dog, who’s forever watching us.”

As for the actual game? Well, it wasn’t Jackson’s best performance. He fouled out after 28 minutes and finished with five turnovers. And the Jazz lost 123-103.

He did have 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field. Still, he wasn’t exactly happy with his performance. Or the loss.

Even if it was an emotional night.

“I’m always going to have some emotions when you come back to a place — you have memories for sure,” Jackson said. “I had a job to do and didn’t execute that. Got to go home and regroup.”

His new home.

But for one night, things didn’t feel so new for Jackson.

He was back where his career started, getting an ovation from a community he’d become part of.

That was special.