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Trayce Jackson-Davis doesn’t feel pressure of playing alongside Warriors’ vets

cody taylor
·2 min read
6

Trayce Jackson-Davis turned in an efficient performance on Thursday off the bench and helped the Golden State Warriors defeat the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center.

Jackson-Davis produced 17 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two assists in nearly 15 minutes of work in the 128-110 victory. He went 8-of-10 from the field to finish with his second game in double figures over his last three appearances.

The 57th pick scored 13 straight points in the second quarter and made six out of his first seven shots. His productive run prompted coach Steve Kerr to keep him in the game to ride his hot stretch.

He didn’t even realize he had scored that many points.

I didn’t necessarily know I had 13 that quick. I knew I scored like three or four times in a row, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I was actually upset because I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing on the defensive end with the coverages, so I was mad about that.

Jackson-Davis has played sporadically this season with the Warriors. However, he seems to provide an instant lift with his energy and production off the bench when called upon, which was on display on Thursday against the Lakers.

The 24-year-old is averaging 6.7 points and four rebounds on 69.3% shooting from the field in 41 games with the Warriors. He leads the team in blocked shots (34) and ranks second in field-goal percentage and eighth in rebounding among rookies.

He has earned praise from the team throughout the season, given his ability to play mistake-free and impact games on both ends of the court. Perhaps most importantly: Jackson-Davis has already earned the trust of his teammates.

Jackson-Davis has formed a nice duo with Klay Thompson, as the two have connected dozens of times on the court in the second unit. He is also expected to play with Chris Paul more once the future Hall of Famer returns from injury.

He feels no pressure playing next to such established players.

“I think it is the opposite,” Jackson-Davis said. “When they instill confidence in me, it just makes me want to raise my game to another level. Obviously, you don’t want to let them down, but at the same time, they give you confidence, and usually, half the time, they draw so much attention that (you’re) getting a dunk or layup. It is just about finishing and concentrating.”

Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire