Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins: GG Jackson will have more opportunities to play

Playing short-handed on Monday, rookie GG Jackson II stepped up with a career performance to help lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a win over the Golden State Warriors.

Jackson produced 23 points, six rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots and one assist in the 116-107 victory at FedExForum. He went 6-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, in 29 minutes of work off the bench.

The Grizzlies had 10 players available and were without the likes of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart. Jackson had eight points alone in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies outscored the Warriors by 10 points in the period to claim their fifth win in eight games.

“With multiple guys being out, I’ve had to step up, as well,” Jackson said. “When you step up and play the amount of minutes that (I) played, the ball is naturally going to find you on the court. You gotta remember those reps. Your body has to create a carbon copy every time you shoot the ball and dribble, just trying to lean on the things you learned.”

Jackson, who is signed to a two-way contract, logged just his eighth appearance with the Grizzlies. He has spent the majority of the season in the G League with the Memphis Hustle but recently returned with a growing injury report.

The 45th pick became the second-youngest player in history to record back-to-back 20-point games after scoring 20 points on Saturday (19 years, 29 days). LeBron James is the only other player to accomplish the feat at a younger age.

Following the performance, Jackson was interviewed by “Inside the NBA” on TNT. He had the opportunity to speak with Shaquille O’Neal and had an incredible reaction to hearing the Hall of Famer talk to him.

The opportunity for Jackson to play was earned in the G League.

Jackson is averaging 20 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks on 43.1% shooting from the field in 22 games with the Hustle. He has scored in double figures 21 times, including five games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

“Playing with the G League, you gotta take every game seriously,” Jackson told Ernie Johnson on TNT. “I try to play every game like it is an NBA game because that is the ultimate goal: To want to stay on this floor. I’ve been staying down, putting the work in, listening to everything the coaches are telling him to do and just trying to be as coachable as possible.”

The injury situation should enable Jackson to remain with the Grizzlies for the foreseeable future. Morant (shoulder) and Steven Adams (knee) are out for the season, while Jake LaRavia (ankle) is expected to miss at least three weeks. Bane (ankle) and Smart (finger) will miss six weeks.

He had totaled 12 points prior to his recent two-game stretch but will now have the opportunity to log extended minutes. The team has been encouraged by his development in the G League and is eager to see what he can do with a larger role in the rotation.

“He is going to get some more (opportunities) moving forward, for sure,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “It is the product of him getting a feel of where his comfort is, where his athleticism can be displayed, the reads in a game offensively, defensively where he can make his mark. The biggest thing is him establishing a feel from jumping from college to the NBA, playing a lot in the G League and now two games in a row in the NBA.”

Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire