GG Jacksons Is Memphis' Next Diamond In The Rough
A long wait for GG Jackson to hear his name called on Thursday night spilled over into early Friday morning before the Memphis Grizzlies drafted the 18-year-old with the 45th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Jackson's draft stock was sporadic in some mock drafts due to his obvious high upside being the youngest prospect in his and being able to create his own shot, knocking down tough jumpers from mid-range and beyond. However, his questionable decision-making and other factors caused his stock to fall over the past month.
His slide in the draft, however, might be a blessing in disguise for Jackson, as the Grizzlies have a knack for getting the most out of their prospects, most recently, Kenny Lofton Jr., who went undrafted in 2022 and had some question marks surrounding his game because of the competition he faced, along with his physique. Slowly but surely, Lofton Jr. has quieted the critics, on the team averaging 22.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists en route to winning the 2023 G-League Player of the Year.
If he starts in the G-League like Lofton Jr., Jackson can work out the wrinkles in his game, learning from pro coaches while performing against some of the best players in the world. Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke are two other late second-round picks that have developed into top 100 players in the NBA.
Suppose things pan out like the other three Grizzlies. In that case, Jackson could surpass all three due to his high ceiling being the No. 1 rated overall prospect in the class of 2023 before his reclassification. It'll be interesting to see how Jackson looks on the floor in his first NBA action when his summer league begins July 3rd versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
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