On Wednesday night, Golden State Warriors floor general Chris Paul got nostalgic after facing Memphis Grizzlies rookie GG Jackson II.
“Honestly,” Paul says, “I’ll tell you the most fulfilling thing about tonight. GG Jackson was on my AAU team. I was his coach two years ago… GG is an unbelievable kid.
“Honestly, the most fulfilling thing about tonight was GG Jackson.”
Chris Paul used to coach GG Jackson on his AAU team, and tonight they got the chance to go head-to-head 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JNxIfNiB1w
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 21, 2024
We done played in Memphis twice this year and I was hurt both of those games. So going into the game it was crazy. It was crazy. Sometimes he still me ‘Coach.’”
‘Coach’ Chris Paul Has Soft Spot for GG Jackson
In what’s becoming a common occurrence, Jackson had another special game, this time against the Warriors. Though Golden State won handily, 137-116, he finished the night with 35 points on 11-19 shooting from the field (7-14 from 3).
Late in the first quarter, Jackson canned a 3 over Paul as he closed out on his former student. In May, Paul will be 20 years Jackson’s senior. On the one hand, this is a testament to Paul’s longevity. On the other hand, it’s one more example that a new generation of NBA stars has arrived.
“He hit a 3 in my face earlier, I was pissed.”
“Our AAU team is really like a family,” Paul says. “So to see him, to be out on there on the court playing against him, is something I’ll never get used to. It’s kind of a surreal moment.”
Diamond in the Rough
Jackson has been one of this season’s hidden gems.
A draft night steal whom the Grizzlies selected 45th overall, the then 18-year-old faced questions about his maturity and shot-selection when he left South Carolina. A dynamic perimeter scorer at 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Jackson averaged 15.4 points per game. Earning SEC All-Freshman honors, Jackson also had the fifth-highest scoring average among freshmen. However, he shot 38.4 percent from the field, routinely forcing the issue and taking ill-advised shots.
Now that he’s had other scorers to play off of, he’s been much more efficient. His seeing the ball go through the net as much as it has lends itself to his confidence. The self-assurance he plays with manifests itself in controlled drives and balanced 3s.
Just 36 games into his career, Jackson’s game looks like it’s progressing nicely. He’s been particularly productive since the All-Star Break, scoring 17.2 points per game. Over the last six games, five of which have been starts, he’s averaging 25.2 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the field (39.0 percent from 3),
There are few benefits to star players being out, but Jackson’s evolution has been one. When Ja Morant returns next season, there’s one more player that he’ll view as a scoring threat. Now it’s not just him, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. It’s him, Jackson, Jackson, and Bane.
Cream of the Crop
As Paul mentioned, Jackson played for Team CP3 in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (Nike EYBL) in 2022 alongside Auburn guard Aden Holloway and Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham.
In 20 games, he averaged 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, per the official website of the South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball team. His rebounding average was a league-high. Jackson also shot 49.5 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from 3.
A five-star prospect, Jackson was so eager to join the NBA that he reclassified from the Class of 2023 to the Class of 2022.
