Joe Jackson: The Journey Of A D-Leaguer
By Scott Chasen
If you were to run into Joe Jackson in public, he might not catch your eye right away. At six feet tall, and weighing just over 170 pounds, Jackson doesn’t really stick out in a crowd, nor does he appear to be anything more than just another athletic person that you might see out walking around.
However, he’s so much more.
And that’s been the story of his professional career. Jackson has overcome the norm in many different ways, from his upbringing, to his stature, to becoming one of the NBA D-League’s best young players.
Even at the age of 23, Jackson has experienced successes than many have only dreamed about. He was the Conference-USA Player of the Year as a junior at Memphis a few years ago, before becoming the NBA D-League’s Most Improved Player last season.
Jackson led the Bakersfield Jam to a victory in the D-League Showcase title game, but for him, the job won’t be done until he’s reached the proverbial peak of the mountain and is playing in the NBA.
“My vision is still right there. Every day, I’m working [for that],” Jackson told reporters at the D-League Showcase. “All it takes is an opportunity.”
While the opportunity to come in and produce at the NBA level has yet to present itself to Jackson, he’s still had the chance to develop his game against top competition, which he said he doesn’t take for granted.
From college basketball to the NBA Summer League, from the NBA preseason to the D-League, all Jackson has ever really needed is a chance, and now that he’s finally earned one, he’s starting to show his potential value.
It’s been a long time coming.
The challenges Jackson has faced in his life would’ve kept many from achieving their dreams, but Jackson has never been one to shy away from a difficult situation. It’s just like the author William Arthur Ward once said:
“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.”
For Jackson, adversity has driven him to a level that few have reached, and it will continue to drive him as he grows as both a basketball player and a person.
Perhaps the one image that best sums up Jackson as both an athlete and a person came in his senior year, in a game against Gonzaga. Zags center Przemek Karnowski caught the ball about five feet from the hoop, and jumped up to slam it home. Despite giving up over one foot of height, not to mention 100 pounds in weight, Jackson jumped up to contest the dunk of the 7-foot-1 Karnowski.
The result? A ridiculous block at the rim, a spot on the SportsCenter Top 10 and the praise of announcer (and former player) Jay Bilas, who complimented Jackson just for having the sheer “courage” to attempt to contest the shot, giving up so much size.
“You’re not going to see many point guards that would even [attempt that],” Bilas added.
“Was that Jackson?”
Why yes. Yes it was.
Next: The Beginning