Isaiah Jackson is gearing up for his third Summer League with the Indiana Pacers. The 2021 first round pick is entering his third NBA season, and he has played in the exhibitions ahead of all three.
It was clear after his first trip to Vegas, in which he averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, that his athleticism and finishing could be weapons. Now, though, he is hoping to expand his game and be more of a leader for the summer Pacers.
Sometimes, a third-year player attending Summer League can be in a make-or-break situation. That is not the case for Jackson. It's clear who he is and what his strengths are, and there is little doubt he has NBA talent. The questions for Jackson are more about him expanding his game, and the 21-year old is taking that in stride.
He was asked if he would play in Summer League, and he happily took the assignment. It will allow him to play with younger Pacers and get more opportunities, and the chemistry and reps will be valuable.
"I think that's my strong suit, helping people out," Jackson said Monday of his leadership role. He is one of the most experienced players on Indiana's summer roster.
Last season, Jackson averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He clearly refined his strengths, but there were some obvious areas for improvement in the youngster's game. He knew that and discussed it at his exit interview in April.
Now, in mini camp and in Vegas, he will have the opportunity to work on some of those abilities. "My main focus this summer was really my jump shot. I feel like I'm getting more comfortable with the pick-and-roll middy game," Jackson said. Nearly 90% of his shot attempts came within 10 feet of the basket last year.
"Even with spacing the floor, trail threes. I've been working on that since the day we had exit meetings," Jackson added. He's been training all summer, with a lot of his work coming in the mid post. He's also been watching a lot of his old game film with his trainer.
This summer could be an important one for Jackson. It's a chance for him to earn minutes as Indiana's backup center this season and also an opportunity to build some chemistry with his new teammates. That is one of the many pros of Summer League.
Jackson, along with Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, can learn what playing with new Pacers Jarace Walker, Isaiah Wong, Ben Sheppard, and Oscar Tshiebwe will be like. Jackson has gone against Tshiebwe often in practice, and the two know each other a bit from their ties to the University of Kentucky.
Tshiebwe is helping Jackson battle on the glass and improve his rebounding. Other rookies are working alongside the 2021 draft pick and helping him in other ways. Walker, for example, can also switch on defense, so the Pacers can switch one through five when the two are paired in the frontcourt.
"Switching one through five has been amazing with him," Jackson said of Walker. He added that they can both toggle between fours and fives, too, which makes them a snug fit.
That chemistry Jackson is building with Walker could matter when the regular season rolls around. The two could pair well in certain lineups for the Pacers, who will have to tinker with their rotation early in the campaign. They have many players who are deserving of minutes.
Speaking on minutes, Jackson said he only expects to play in two Summer League games. There really isn't a need for more for him or the Pacers. Helping his younger teammates can still happen while not playing, and a pair of battles is plenty to get a feel for Jackson's summer growth.
He wants to dominate those games. He watched a lot of the NBA postseason and knows what he needs to be better at. In just a few days, when the summer Pacers take the floor for the first time, Isaiah Jackson will get a chance to show how he has improved.
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