Suns grab Josh Jackson
No. 4 overall pick Jackson brings competitive attitude, athleticism to Phoenix
Kansas freshman goes 4th in NBA draft; UA’s Markkanen picked 7th, dealt to Bulls.
The Suns last season were among the NBA’s worst defensive teams. In Thursday’s NBA draft, they took a significant step toward improvement.
Amid massive trade speculation, the Suns held on to their No. 4 pick and added to their young core, selecting Kansas small forward Josh Jackson, perhaps the best two-way player in the NBA draft.
A 6-8, 207-pound freshman, Jackson brings a defensive edge that is expected to translate immediately, something that could make him a starter from Day 1. Jackson, 20, also has a competitive spirit that’s reflected in his self-evaluation. He thinks he’s the best player in the draft. “I knew coming in that I couldn’t control where I was drafted,” Jackson said in a teleconference with local media. “I had no idea where I was going to be picked, but I just came in (Thursday) with a great mindset and told myself to make the best of whatever situation I’m presented with. I feel blessed to be drafted by Phoenix, come in to a place where I think I fit in perfect. I think I can offer the team a lot of things.”
The Suns selected Davon Reed of Miami with their second pick, No. 32 overall. A 6-5 guard, Reed last season shot 40 percent from 3-point range and was an ACC All-Defensive team selection, potentially helping the Suns in two areas.
With the 54th pick, the Suns selected Valparaiso’s Alec Peters, a 6-9 forward with a nice shooting touch. A four-year starter, he was last season’s Horizon League Player of the Year.
All three join a rebuilding organization that hasn’t tasted the postseason in seven years. Once it became
clear they wouldn’t make last season’s playoffs, the Suns shut down key players in hopes of securing a better position in what was considered a topheavy draft.
While the initial hope might have been landing UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball – who went No. 2 to the Lakers – drafting Jackson might have been the next best option.
Some experts considered him the draft’s top prospect, mostly because of his competitive attitude and defensive potential.
“I don’t think the other guys in this draft really care as much as I do,” Jackson said. “I don’t think they play as hard as I do – period. I think that’s what really makes me special. I refuse to fail – period.”
Offensively, Jackson excels in the open court and has strong passing skills, but his perimeter jump shot needs work. He shot 54.9 percent from 2-point range, 37.8 from 3 and 56.6 from the foul line.
Another flaw on his resume: Jackson twice was involved in off-court incidents, one stemming from an argument with a women’s basketball player outside a Lawrence, Kan., bar. As part of a diversion agreement, Jackson agreed to take an anger-management course, avoid drugs and alcohol for a year, write a letter of apology to the victim and complete at least 20 hours of community service.
“I don’t think it really represents who I am,” Jackson said. “You know, I made a mistake that day. I did. I admitted to it from day one when it was brought up. I think the whole situation was really blown out of proportion just because of who I am. Reporters want to make a story and get themselves a name. But everyone who was close to the situation and everyone who I’ve talked to about it, they know exactly what happened that day . ... It wasn’t as bad as everybody made it out to be.”
Provided the Suns don’t make a trade, Jackson will join guard Devin Booker (20), as well as forwards Marquese Chriss (19) and Dragan Bender (19) as key building blocks in Phoenix’s rebuild.
“When I look at Phoenix, that’s one of the things that really excites me is that they’re young,” Jackson said. “I know that I got a lot of things to learn coming into this league. I know they still got some things to learn, but being able to learn those things together, I think down the road that will make our team chemistry just so much better.”