GG Jackson heaps praise on Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr.: 'He glues us together'
By Mark Nilon
![2024 NBA Summer League - Dallas Mavericks v Memphis Grizzlies 2024 NBA Summer League - Dallas Mavericks v Memphis Grizzlies](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5103,h_2870,x_0,y_411/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/227/01j31zmh4wj5z514r2yy.jpg)
Three games into the Las Vegas stretch of the 2024 Summer League the Memphis Grizzlies still find themselves undefeated, as they managed to rattle off yet another win Wednesday against the equally hot, Orlando Magic.
Though the contest proved to be the hardest-fought bout from these offseason exhibitions, through 48 minutes of action, the result still wound up being the same for coach Jason March's squad as they squeaked by with a 104-98 victory.
While a win is always considered a team effort, for those who watched it appeared as if the Grizzlies put on a two-man show during the contest, with Scotty Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson both taking turns dominating the hardwood and combining for 52 points on 54.3 percent shooting from the field,
However, despite these top-billed efforts as a tandem, following the game Jackson was quick to heap praise upon his point guard during an interview with Grind City Media, labeling him a true "floor general" and highlighting his abilities to command an offense and make the right plays at the right time.
GG Jackson praises Scotty Pippen Jr. following Grizzlies win over Magic
"[He's] one of the key leaders of this Summer League team. He can get going at any time but he also knows how to lay back and get his teammates involved. Ultimately, he glues us together on the floor."
- GG Jackson
you see the vision @spippenjr x @_ggjackson pic.twitter.com/fHlgjiyMjA
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 17, 2024
Pippen was a consistent contributor throughout the contest for the Grizzlies, even when not necessarily looking for his shot, as he wrapped up with 25 points, 9 assists, 4 boards, and a steal in 31 minutes played.
However, the soon-to-be junior in the association truly made his mark on the game during the pivotal fourth period following a major surge from the Magic in the third (went on a 34-18 run, including a 19-8 run during the final five minutes), as he took over when needed, showcasing his highly underrated handles and finishing skills for his 6-foot-1 size, and dropped 16 points on 62.5 percent shooting.
the craft @spippenjr
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 18, 2024
quick 13-0 run to start the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/MpvjFPlnyH
In turn, Memphis was able to regain momentum where they managed to push their lead at one point back to double-digits and, in turn, gave themselves enough cushion for even when Orlando once again pushed back, it was too large a margin to overcome.
With every passing day, Pippen seems to justify Zach Kleiman and co.'s investment in his upside and overall potential following his agreement to a two-way deal with the club last season, and his heroics in Wednesday's contest serve as yet another example of why he's worth holding onto moving forward.
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