Warriors find gem in Jackson-Davis
Why Golden State is perfect team for him
HOUSTON >> In the Warriors' biggest game to date, at the Toyota Center with a chance to essentially seal a play-in spot, with “Warriors come out to play” chattering in the lead-up, Trayce Jackson-Davis delivered a career-high 20 points.
None of it was unexpected. He converted a variety of dunks and buttery finishes around the rim — off slips, rolls and alley-oop lobs — while also blocking a shot and recording a steal. Since Jackson-Davis joined the rotation, he has contributed on both ends.
But his production is still a revelation. Any team could've had Jackson-Davis, whom Golden State selected with the 57th overall pick. Now, paired with Draymond Green in the Warriors' starting lineup that has jelled during their season-high six-game win streak, the 24-year-old rookie is making a serious All-Rookie push.
“Trayce and Draymond together, that changed our team,” Steve Kerr said after the Warriors' win in Houston. “It's pretty dramatic, just the rim protection, the rebounding that Trayce gives us, and what that allows Draymond to do. It's been really fun to watch them together. Trayce, for a rookie, it's amazing what he's doing.”
For right now and in the future, Jackson-Davis is a major piece for a Warriors franchise trying to extend its dynasty. Like many draft steal stories, Jackson-Davis' journey to Golden State took a healthy dash of serendipity. But he's now with a team that perfectly complements his skillset — and vice versa — and he wouldn't have it any other way.
“Being able to screen for these shooters, play above the rim, having Draymond teach you, having (Kevon Looney) teach you, it's great,” Jackson-Davis told this news organization. “CP3, one of the best point guards ever. It's awesome.”
In 2022, after JacksonDavis' junior year at Indiana, he declared for the NBA Draft. In the predraft process, he went to Los Angeles for NBAlevel training sessions. He could've boosted his draft stock with a strong performance at the NBA Draft Combine, but a bout of COVID-19 hit him right before the event, knocking him out of activities for 10 days.
Had Jackson-Davis not contracted the virus, or tested negative before the combine, it's quite possible he'd be on a team other than the Warriors right now. That year, Golden State selected two players: Patrick Baldwin Jr at 28 and Gui Santos at 55. The Warriors still believed in James Wiseman, so they weren't targeting young centers. And Bob Myers' front office had a preference for higher-upside, younger players like Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga. A 22-yearold, 6-foot-9 center like Jackson-Davis probably wouldn't have fit the mold.
But Jackson-Davis decided to return to Indiana to play for Mike Woodson. Playing a second year in Woodson's pro-style system, Jackson-Davis became a consensus All-American. He registered 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.9 blocks per game — season averages matched only by Tim Duncan in NCAA history.
The experience prepared the already polished Jackson-Davis even more for the league. Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s front office used the 57th pick — the second-to-last selection of the draft — it acquired in the Jordan Poole trade on Jackson-Davis.
Jackson-Davis has been a fast learner, even in Golden State's complicated read-and-react system. In his first game with real playing time, on Oct. 30, he recorded 13 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks while being a +11 in the box score. Against Houston on Thursday, he shot 8-for-10 — plus hitting all four of his free throws — while swiping a steal and swatting Jalen Green.
It took some time for Kerr to trust Jackson-Davis to handle Looney's minutes, but by December, the rookie had given his head coach plenty of reasons to trust him. There's a significant difference between the speed of the NBA game compared to college, but Jackson-Davis' four-year Indiana career made his jump to the league less daunting.