GM Survey: Memphis Grizzlies have the highest potential
By Ethan Becker
4. Player most likely to have breakout season: Jaren Jackson Jr. (2nd, 11%)
To start with, when asked which player was set to have a breakout season in 2019-2020, 11% of GMs said that their pick is Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson found himself coming up just behind De’Aaron Fox on the Sacramento Kings, and when you really think about what JJJ could bring to the table, it’s not hard to see why he’s up here.
Last season, Jackson averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, all while averaging 26.1 minutes over 58 games. A player that has that base coming into the league as a rookie has the potential to develop into an All-Star caliber two-way player, such as Kawhi Leonard. And that’s not an overexageration either, in his second season with the Spurs, Leonard averaged 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.6 assists, and 0.6 blocks per game while playing an average of 31.1 minutes over 58 games.
Another advantage that Jackson has is the fact that the opposing defense now has multiple young threats to focus on. Ja Morant will pull defenders off Jackson, as will Tyus Jones and Brandon Clarke. All Jackson needs to do is play his game in a system that is opening space up for him, and GMs across the league are seeing that.