Grizzlies Provide Injury Update On Talented Youngster

If Jackson stays on track in his rehab process, should return to action between Jan. 15 and Jan. 29. To be safe though, it might be better to assume he’ll be available just ahead of the All-Star break. This season, the All-Star break will be from Feb. 14-19.

Grizzlies Provide Injury Update On Talented Youngster GG Jackson II

When Jackson returns, he may be in a far different situation than the last time he was on the court. During his rookie season, he benefited from injuries to multiple starters, which allowed him play to heavy minutes. In those moments, he put his versatile skillset on display, but his sizable scoring upside was the true separator.

So, entering the season, it was unclear whether he would start or come off the bench in a sixth man role. There were merits to both positions.

At 6-foot-9, Jackson has length that the Grizzlies had been lacking at small forward since moving on from 6-foot-6 defensive specialist Dillon Brooks. He knocked down 36.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes. At the other end, he flashed his defensive potential as on-ball and in help situations.

However, Jackson was somewhat raw and streaky. As the youngest player in the NBA, that was par for the course. Nonetheless, those traits lend themselves to the idea that he would’ve been better suited coming off the bench. He may have also found it easier to play his game in that role, as he’s a dynamic shot-creator whose touches would probably be relatively limited in the first unit.

Standing Out While Fitting In

Now, Jackson is all but guaranteed to come off the bench.

3-and-D wing Jaylen Wells, a rookie, has emerged as their starting small forward. Even Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, hasn’t been able to take his spot. On top of that, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins has opted for a more egalitarian system due to their immense depth. He’s not showing favoritism to any player, he’s just trying to find who fits his coaching philosophy.

Honestly, Memphis may need to make a trade at some point to clear up their logjams. Whether or not they do though, Jackson will have to figure out how to stand out while fitting in.