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  MikeCheck: Grizzlies forward GG Jackson ‘March’-ing among NBA’s most productive rookies

  SAN ANTONIO – One way or the other, Grizzlies rookie swingman GG Jackson was going to find himself with a chance to shine on one of basketball’s biggest stages this weekend.

  Had things worked out as initially planned, Jackson could have been suiting up as a star for No. 1-seed North Carolina as the Tar Heels launch their NCAA Tournament run.

  But after originally committing to play for UNC as one of the nation’s top prep prospects two years ago, Jackson instead opted to reclassify, enter college a year early and switched his destination to the University of South Carolina.

  So, in theory, the talented 6-foot-9 forward could have returned to the Gamecocks for his sophomore season and joined South Carolina on their NCAA Tournament push as well.

  

  But after leaving college following an underwhelming freshman season, falling to the No. 45 pick in last June’s NBA Draft and starting out in the developmental G League, Jackson has rapidly worked his way into this marque March moment, nonetheless.

  While the sports world is engulfed by the madness that is March’s NCAA Tournament, Jackson has emerged as the NBA’s most productive rookie this month. And Jackson’s surge has come just in time for Friday’s matchup with the head of his 2023 draft class when the Grizzlies face the Spurs and rookie No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama.

  “I definitely feel like I’m becoming a pro – or more of a pro,” said Jackson, coming off his latest historic performance as the Grizzlies reach the midpoint of their four-game trip. “I’ve been having conversations with (veteran teammate) Derrick Rose about things that are necessary to become a better pro. I’d been talking to (Memphis Hustle G League coach) Jason March about creating better habits. Those things are going to mold me into hopefully the potential star player I want to be, but overall, just a solid basketball player.”

  The NBA’s youngest player – Jackson turned 19 in December – has taken his second-half-of-the-season stride to another gear in recent weeks.

  Coming off a career-high 35-point effort Wednesday in Golden State, Jackson leads all rookies in total points (192) and is second in minutes played (315) in March. His scoring average of 19.2 points this month ranks second behind Wembanyama’s 20.4 points.

  Although Wembanyama’s historic production has positioned the 7-foot-5 generational talent as the strong favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year, no newcomer in the league this year has made a bigger in-season leap than Jackson.

  And he’s made some history of his own, too.

  

  On Wednesday, Jackson became the NBA’s youngest player to make at least seven 3-pointers when he shot 11-for-19 overall from the field, including 7-for-14 from deep.

  Earlier this season, Jackson was the second-youngest player in NBA history behind LeBron James to score at least 20 points in consecutive games. He was then mentioned alongside Kobe Bryant as the second-youngest to ever score 25 points off the bench in a game.

  Jackson’s progress has become one of the biggest silver linings in a season of injuries and struggles for the Grizzlies, who have been without catalysts Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane and Rose for significant chunks of games.

  At 27-43 with 12 games remaining, Memphis will miss out on the postseason for the first time in four years. But opposing coaches, players and scouts throughout the NBA are convinced the Grizzlies have hit on their decision late in the second round of last year’s draft to take a shot on Jackson.

  As the injury absences have piled up, Jackson’s opportunities have grown. Through the first three months of the season, Jackson played a total of four games with the Grizzlies while spending most of that time with the G League’s Memphis Hustle. He’s played 32 games since the start of January and has seen his overall production spike month over month.

  In six starts this season, Jackson has averaged 25 points and 5.5 rebounds in 37.5 minutes while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, nearly 40-percent on 3-pointers and almost 90-percent from the free-throw line.

  “We always knew it wasn’t a talent thing for him – it’s about carrying yourself as a pro each and every day,” Bane said of Jackson’s development. “He’s got a lot of great people to learn from in our locker room, and he’s taking full advantage of it.”

  

  Jackson frequently refers to the lessons he’s learned from Rose, who was the youngest MVP in NBA history earlier in his career, about professionalism and eventual stardom. 

  Jackson has leaned on Smart, among others, for defensive technique and developing mental toughness. And Morant, a fellow South Carolina native, has been a mentor since before Jackson blossomed into one of the nation’s top high school players.

  Those relationships have all strengthened to foster a level of confidence and trust that put Jackson in position to take the potential game-winning shot in Sacramento to start this trip. With the game tied at 105 in the final seconds of regulation on Monday, Bane drove from the top of the key to his right, drew three defenders and flipped a pass toward the corner to Jackson.

  “I was saying in my head the whole time, ‘Des is about to (shoot) this, and we don’t have to worry about nothing,’” Jackson reflected on that moment in the game. “And then I hear Ja from the bench in my ear saying, ‘Get in a stance!’ So, I got in a stance and the ball just happened to come my way. So, you have to stay ready, and that’s what I’ve learned from that.”

  The shot came up well short and the Grizzlies ultimately lost in overtime to the Kings. But the aftermath that played out in the locker room and beyond proved how highly teammates and coaches think of Jackson’s growth.

  “It’s all learning and development opportunities for him,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “He’s going to have his moments where he’s going to make mistakes and he’s been learning immediately from them. He tries to get better the next time he gets that rep.”

  

  Jenkins insists Jackson’s biggest gains have come as a defender.

  In the past week, those primary assignments have included matchups with MVP candidate Shea Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City, All-Star De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento and future Hall of Famer Steph Curry in Golden State. All three stars were held slightly below their season scoring averages with Jackson’s length and athleticism helping to disrupt.

  “Coach stressed to me earlier that they were going to challenge me in different aspects of the game, and I haven’t backed down from any of them,” Jackson said of welcoming the increased workload. “There’s been a lot of nerves going into those matchups, but the more I watch film and listen to guys like Marcus, who’s defended these guys and been to the Finals, they’re going to help me potentially get to a defensive level like theirs.”

  It’s clear the aspirations to be great are there for Jackson. So are opportunities to display his remarkable progress. It was only a matter of time, location and destination.

  But Jackson was destined to make the most of March – one way or another.

  Michael Wallace
  Published on Mar 22, 2024

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