Previously selected 45th overall out of South Carolina in the 2023 NBA Draft, GG Jackson II's NBA career has been an absolute rollercoaster, to say the least. After a promising rookie season that saw him make the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, his time in Memphis has been inconsistent. However, all signs are pointing to him growing as a player.
GG Jackson II averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game as a rookie. Jackson II showed flashes of potentially becoming a star in Memphis before suffering a Jones fracture in his right foot. Jackson II returned but struggled to find a rhythm and get back into the rotation. Despite his youth, this season was set to be crucial for him, and he is answering the call.
Jackson II entered the league at 18 years old and was the youngest player of the 2023 NBA Draft class. Despite a challenging sophomore season that was tough on Jackson II mentally, head coach Tuomas Iisalo promised to coach him harder than anyone else and help him reach his potential. So far, the coaching has paid off, and Jackson II has bought in on both ends of the court.
The defensive growth has been noticeable
Arguably the biggest obstacle to GG Jackson II earning playing time was how well he could defend. Despite showing offensive upside as soon as he entered the league, defense was a clear weak point of his game. While his defense continues to be a work in progress, the defensive playmaking growth is encouraging.
Granted, the sample size is small, but Jackson II's increased defensive activity has not gone unnoticed. Currently, he is recording 2.1 steals per 100 possessions (82nd percentile) and 1.5 blocks per 100 possessions (94th percentile), which both rank well at his position. For a team looking to create more deflections, Jackson II has been an answer in that area.
Jackson II is a solution to the offensive struggles
Currently, the Grizzlies have a 112.8 offensive rating as a team, which ranks in the bottom ten of the NBA. The halfcourt struggles on offense have been extra noticeable, especially with the absence of Zach Edey and multiple key guards on the team. However, a glaring issue is that the Grizzlies still need more scoring from their wing players.
Cedric Coward has continued to be a reliable offensive option despite being a rookie. However, Jaylen Wells and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are having a dip in scoring this month. Beyond just the scoring totals, both are in the middle of a slump and have not been efficient.
This month, Jackson II is averaging 10.6 points in 20.5 minutes per game but currently possesses 50/35.7/77.8 shooting splits for the month. With the Grizzlies desperately needing another shot creator and high-quality finishing at the rim, Jackson II is a logical option for increased playing time.
Despite some inconsistencies in the early stages of his NBA career, the Grizzlies were wise to not give up on GG Jackson II. At just 21 years old, it is still very likely that he will have another significant development leap. Many things continue to go wrong for the Grizzlies, but GG Jackson II has started to revive his career recently.