Grizzlies’ rookie Jackson stays for extra practice
An exhausted Jaren Jackson Jr. slapped hands with Anas Mahmoud as he celebrated making his fifth straight 3-pointer from the left corner.
The Grizzlies rookie stuck around after practice for an around-the-world shooting drill with Memphis assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse.
“Shooting with Stack, he wouldn’t let me get out of the drill. Stack’s crazy, he keeps going,” Jackson said. “I like that. Keep pushing me. (I’m) probably gonna try to do that every day.”
The Grizzlies’ No. 4 pick showed potential as a shooter in his lone year at Michigan State, knocking down 39.6 percent of his 3-pointers. The NCAA 3point line, however, is three feet closer than the NBA’s.
“You gotta do both,” Jackson said when asked if he expected to spend more time in the post or on the perimeter. “(I’ll shoot) wherever its open. The corners is cool though.”
J.B. Bickerstaff praises Stackhouse
Stackhouse’s potential to push players like he did with Jackson is part of the reason why he was brought to Memphis. Grizzlies’ coach J.B. Bickerstaff sought coaches who reflected the mindset he wanted his players to have.
“We want guys who are physical, we want guys who are mentally tough,” he said. “And obviously, you go back in (Stackhouse’s) career, he was that.”
Prior to being hired in Memphis, Stackhouse led the Raptors 905 to the 2016-17 NBA D-League championship and was named the 2017 NBA DLeague Coach of the Year.
“He’s a well-rounded coach,” Bick-
erstaff said. “With all the coaches that we have here, we’re not looking for specialists. We’re looking for guys that can contribute all over the floor. He’s another one of those guys.”
Who is teaching Jaren Jackson Jr.
Despite being only 21, Deyonta Davis and Ivan Rabb are considered Summer League veterans. They played together in the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League and appeared in 98 games combined for Memphis last season.
The duo will share the frontcourt with Jackson throughout Summer League before competing for minutes in the regular season. Regardless of the competition, they’ve already left their mark on the rookie.
“By just trying to seal me every time. Trying to duck me in, be physical with me,” Jackson said when asked how the older bigs have helped him. “But they’re also teaching me little things, little terminologies, different actions and different sets that help me a lot.”
Ivan Rabb finds solace with less attention
In three years Rabb has gone from being a top-eight recruit in the nation to a reserve on the Grizzlies. With the transition came much less attention, but he hasn’t let it change him.
“I’m still grinding,” he said. “It doesn’t really change too much for me. I’m humble so wherever team I’m at, whatever I’m doing, I just work hard and everybody around here will tell you the same thing.”
The adjustment has helped him block out distractions and identify who his true companions are.
“It kind of showed me who’s with me and who’s not really with me,” Rabb said. “At the end of the day it’s a blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason. I’m just here to work hard.”