AT all those who were wondering where was the fourth choice of the 2017 Draft, one of the young hopes of the Suns at the time, do not worry because we found him for you. Josh Jackson is currently riding the G League on behalf of the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ affiliate, and it works pretty well for him in the NBA lobby.
Josh Jackson’s journey is quite sad when you consider the talent possessed by this training position 3, drafted by the Suns just before De’Aaron Fox to give you an idea of the initial expectations for the young prospect. Passed by the University of Kansas for a year, his rookie season is encouraging with 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25 minutes on average and a selection in the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. But his sophomore campaign is disappointing … He does not progress and lacks skill (41.3% shooting, 32.4% 3-point) for a player expected in scoring. A stay at the station during a vacation in Florida last May after a concert too drunk, followed by a transfer to Tennessee in July and this is how the double J ended up at the Memphis Hustle … in the cellar of the Great League, with instructions to restore its image on and off the field, pending a text from Taylor Jenkins, the coach of the Grizzlies.
JJ seems to have understood the lesson because in ten games with his new colleagues, he runs at 23.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 interceptions and 1.6 pancakes, 50% shooting and 46% 3-point (with 7 attempts per game) and his team n haven’t lost a game. The numbers are impressive, Josh is efficient in his selection of shots, has visibly worked his body language this summer, eats rebounds, defends hard and crushes swells on the board every night. But we must all the same remember that he is playing against Pro B and that he is therefore the first option in attack. Josh is doing what is expected of him and is focusing on the game to jumpstart his young career. It is surely not too late for him considering the capacities of the boy but the Bears seem determined to take their time while they have no other goal than to develop their nuggets this season. However, Memphis does not have that much time after the decision by the front office not to activate their team option on the last year of the contract. third year. The two camps thus have only a few months to mend or Josh Jackson could leave Tennessee before having donned the jersey of the Grizzlies. At least with his recent results he knows he can always continue his professional career in the G League if ever the 30 NBA franchises snub him. But the goal would still be to return to the Association to prove that he has matured and that he can become a real role player in an ambitious team.
It only remains for him to continue his momentum and hope for a call to return to play with the world elite. It is not the stampede in the infirmary of the Grizzlies but we could well find a small place for him in a rotation if a few ankles turned in the meantime … and too bad for the end of the season of the Memphis Hustle, there was a title G League to go for yet.
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