Josh Jackson is trying to revive his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, and he had his most impressive game yet on Friday in Los Angeles.
Despite the Grizzlies' 117-105 loss to the Lakers at Staples Center, Jackson finished with 20 points (9-of-12 shooting) in under 23 minutes off the bench — his first time scoring at least 20 points in an NBA game since Jan. 6, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiDIHHyihRE
After Jackson hit a spinning layup for his fourth basket in a row and final points of the night late in the game, he shared an excited chest bump and words with Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant, who later revealed what the no. 4 overall pick said.
Via Omari Sankofa II of The Athletic:
“He told me he didn’t get picked in that spot for no reason,” Morant said.
This is referring to the Phoenix Suns drafting Jackson with the No. 4 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Suns included Jackson in a salary dump trade last July after two disappointing seasons that included repeated breaches of league and team conduct.
Jackson had spent most of his Memphis tenure playing for the franchise's G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, before getting called up on Jan. 27 in the wake of Grayson Allen's hip injury.
Jackson also played well in a loss to Sacramento, tallying 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 18 minutes. His two best showings may have come in defeat (and in garbage time), but early returns provide hope that he can help the young Grizzlies as they fight to hold the West's No. 8 seed. As Sankofa points out, through nine games, the Grizzlies are scoring 120 points per 100 possessions with Jackson on the court — 11 points better than when he’s on the bench — and giving up 4.9 fewer points per 100 possessions.
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