Joe Jackson: The Journey Of A D-Leaguer

A Home In Bakersfield

Jackson signed on with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2014 Summer League, and he looked pretty sharp when he was on the court. Jackson averaged just 5.5 points per game, but per 40 minutes, he posted closer to 17 points, five rebounds and two assists per game, while wreaking havoc (as always) on the defensive end.

Jackson finished the Summer League with a ridiculous 61.7 true shooting percentage, and a solid PER of 17.1. Jackson’s defensive rating of 99.4 would’ve ranked in the top 10 for the ensuing NBA season, as would have his steal percentage of just under three.

Regardless, the Memphis native was unable to find an NBA home in Memphis. He had one more shot to find a spot on an NBA team with the Suns, as they brought him in for the preseason. However, he was waived on Oct. 14, before getting snatched up by the Bakersfield Jam.

Through seven games, it didn’t look like Jackson was going to be much of an impact player. He was averaging just 5.9 points and 2.1 assists per game, and aside from one outing where he posted 11 points and seven dimes, he hadn’t really made an impact on any of his games.

Then came the fireworks.

Jackson cracked the 20-point mark in each of his next three games, and he would score in double figures in his next seven games, not to mention in 24 of his next 27. And for Jackson, it wasn’t just about scoring, his assist numbers improved dramatically as well.

After recording 15 total assists in his first seven games, Jackson matched that total in two different games alone. Against the Vipers he racked up 15 assists, to go along with 21 points, six rebounds and five steals. Against the Oklahoma City Blue, he racked up 16 dimes, to go along with 32 points and (once again) five steals.

Jackson finished the year with five-plus steals in a game four times, which spoke to the type of defender that he was and is. Jackson is certainly aggressive in getting out in passing lanes to rack up steals, but his ability as an on-ball defender is incredibly uncommon. On multiple occasions he managed to rip the ball away from some of the league’s better ball handlers, and he made it look easy.

And while he was among the best at taking the ball away from opponents, that didn’t mean he neglected to work on his own handle. Jackson posted an assist-to-turnover ratio better than 2-to-1. And outside of four games, which served as outliers, he was really clean with the ball in his hands, averaging right around two turnovers per game, despite recording 30-plus minutes 15 times, and 37-plus minutes seven times.

The turning point for Jackson’s season couldn’t have come at a better time, as he burst onto the scene right before the NBA D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz, California. The Showcase provided Jackson with the perfect opportunity to impress on a national stage, and that’s exactly what he did.

Next: Most Improved