For Jackson-Davis, dunk is big chunk of his offense
Draymond Green dribbles, picks and passes. Kevon Looney screens, rolls and rebounds. Dario Saric picks, pops and posts.
Trayce Jackson-Davis secures, skies and slams.
The Golden State Warriors’ rookie big man, with his size and verticality, adds a unique dynamic to coach Steve Kerr’s frontcourt, supplying 55 dunks through 54 games: tops among the team’s tally of big men, according to Basketball Reference.
Jackson-Davis finished four more dunks Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers en route to 17 points, his most since Jan. 10. He’s second on the team in dunks to Jonathan Kuminga (96). Said Kerr on Friday before a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Chase Center: “You can see the impact that he makes with his ability to score at the rim.”
The Warriors under Kerr aren’t reliant on a lob threat like Jackson-Davis, but have had his archetype in past iterations available in their rotation. Andrew Bogut could play above the basket and after him, Javale McGee.
Standing 6 feet, 9 inches, Jackson-Davis is of a similar offensive mold, often screening, rolling and skying for lobs. He runs the floor fluidly and slides into space made empty by defenders forced to help against drives.
His dunks total is more than double that of Green, Looney and Saric combined (24).
Speaking postgame Thursday about his offensive approach, he noted his future Hall of Fame teammates — Chris Paul and Klay Thompson — “draw so much attention” leading to a “dunk or a layup. So it’s just about finishing and concentrating.”
Case in point: He entered Friday shooting a team-high 69.3% from the field, his average field-goal attempt coming a team-low 2.4 feet from the rim.
He averages a dunk every 9.6 minutes.
Kerr divides the backup big-man minutes depending on any given night the matchup and personnel. But he’s appreciative of the dynamic Jackson-Davis adds offensively.
“Having that different look at that spot is really important for us,” Kerr said.
Family reunion: Stephen Curry played against his brother Seth, who was traded earlier this month to the Hornets. Manning the call on Charlotte’s local broadcast was their father, Dell — making Friday night a first.
Never before has a father called a game between his opposing sons, according to the Warriors.
“Amazing,” Kerr said pregame. “Obviously, Dell is somebody we’re very familiar with here. I’m happy for him, how proud he must be as a dad to be watching his sons and working the game. It’s a great story. … Pretty cool moment.”