Joe Jackson: The Journey Of A D-Leaguer
By Scott Chasen
Most Improved
With all of the strides Jackson had made over his college and D-League career, it seemed like an absolute breakout game had to be coming. And it finally did, on Mar. 26, when Jackson posted the best stat line of his professional basketball career:
Joe Jackson posted a season high 32 points on 13-17 FGs. Oh yeah he also had 5 steals, 16 assists and ZERO turnovers. Wow. #NBADL
— Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) March 27, 2015
Jackson did have some other ridiculous outings, including a couple of near triple-doubles in back-to-back games. Against Los Angeles, he posted 16 points, eight assists and nine rebounds, and followed that up with a 29-point, 10-assist, nine-rebound outing against Reno.
The former Memphis standout also knocked out 80 percent of a five-by-five on one occasion, when he recorded 21 points, 15 assists, six rebounds and five steals against Rio Grande Valley (and if you count turnovers, he did actually pull off the ridiculous feat). It’s also worth mentioning that in that game he posted a career-high plus/minus of +25.
By the end of the year, Jackson had established himself as one of the most well rounded guards at the D-League level, and for that, he received two postseason honors.
First, he was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Second Team, but it was the other award that really summed up Joe Jackson’s season: After a slow start, he really turned into a D-League superstar, and showed what he could someday provide for an NBA team.
CONGRATULATIONS to Joe Jackson on being named 2015 @nbadleague Most Improved Player! #BakersfieldProud pic.twitter.com/Cu2rh28XBq
— Bakersfield Jam (@BakersfieldJam) April 16, 2015
Jackson’s season got off to a rocky start, but in the end, it didn’t really matter. Hard work, determination and a never-say-die attitude led Jackson to becoming one of the top non-NBA guards playing professional basketball, and it’s likely something that will help him get over the hump.
Jackson has defied the odds his whole life. He pushed through the difficult circumstances surrounding his childhood just to become a top-level recruit, but that was only the beginning.
Standing at right around six feet tall, weighing less than 175 pounds, Jackson lacks the size that many NBA teams look for in their players. After all, the biggest concerns about the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry was his size headed into the draft, yet in 2009, when he was drafted, he still measured three inches taller than Jackson (in 2014), not to mention about 10 pounds heavier.
@MAYNHOLUP stephen curry is too small to play in the nba; yall should get my boy eric maynor out of vcu; hometown player!
— 🤯🤯🤯 (@walkmasterflex) May 20, 2009
I remember before Steph Curry joined the draft, fans/analysts are hesitant because of his lack of size and being skinny. Look at him now.
— Renz (@RSAM90) December 12, 2013
Since that time, Curry has filled out, and holds about a 20-pound advantage on the point guard out of Memphis, although Jackson holds a decisive advantage in his raw athleticism.
To date, it remains to be seen if an NBA team will take a chance and call up Joe Jackson. However, after his remarkable 2014-15 campaign, it’d be hard to believe he won’t at least get a really close look over the summer and in the preseason.
Simply put, the talent is there, as is the heart. The only question left to answer is when.
After all…“All it takes is an opportunity.”
Next: Do The Suns Have The NBA's Most Depressed Fan Base?