SACRAMENTO -- Adjusting to life in the NBA is no easy task, even for a seasoned college player like Justin Jackson. After a slow start to the California Classic in game one, the Kings’ small forward looked comfortable and confident in the team’s 71-54 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening.
“I think for me, it’s just trying to be aggressive, trying to stay confident,” Jackson told media members following the loss. “Whether they are running plays for me or not, trying to keep that same mindset so that when I do get my opportunities, it’s the same as if I got touches before that.”
Jackson was clearly not the focus in the opener where he finished with just five points, one rebound and one assist in 33 minutes of action.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
After leading the North Carolina Tar Heels to a National Championship in 2017, the adjustment to playing a secondary role hasn’t been an easy one for Jackson.
“If you ask every guy that comes from college going to the NBA, unless you’re a top-five pick or somebody like, I think it’s one of the biggest adjustments - trying to do your job knowing that you might not get the one thing that you’re used to doing all the time and that’s getting the ball and trying to score,” Jackson said.
With De’Aaron Fox sidelined with a sore left Achilles tendon, Jackson was featured early on Tuesday evening and took full advantage. The 23-year-old wing led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He also added five rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes for coach Larry Lewis.
“I liked it,” Lewis said. “I think Justin has a game that was very useful tonight. I think it’s important to understand that when a guy feels good or has a certain talent level, we go to him and that’s what I wanted to do.”
NBA
You could see Jackson’s confidence early in the game. He knocked down 5-of-5 from the field in the first half, including 2-for-2 from behind the arc.
With Jackson hitting his shots, point guard Frank Mason III made a concerted effort to feed him the ball and ride out the streak.
“As a point guard, you’ve got to know that, you’ve got to feel that,” Mason said. “You see he’s pretty much making everything he shoots. Coach did a great job of calling sets and getting the ball in his hand and me and my teammates did a good job of finding him.”
It’s not every night that Jackson gets to be the featured player in the offense. In the games that the ball doesn’t swing his way, he needs to find a way to do the little things, like rebounding and playing defense.
“I think defensively is where I can really find a spot, you know, being kind of that long, active defender. I think that’s something I can do whether I’m touching the ball or not on offense,” Jackson added.
The California Classic is a trial run for Las Vegas Summer League, which begins this weekend. Jackson needs to find consistency, even if the games mean very little in the grand scheme of the NBA.
Jackson started 41 games for the Kings last season, but playing time is never guaranteed in the league, especially for a young player. After getting married last summer, he has a support system in place that many players his age don’t have, which can help him get through the ups and downs of a long season.
“I love my wife, my wife is super supportive and so at the end of the day, having her support, having her confidence in me allows me to go out there and play how I can,” Jackson said.
There is an opening at the three in Sacramento. As of July 3rd, Jackson is one of the few options the teams has at the position. That can change quickly through trades or free agency, but a strong showing in summer league from Jackson might help to quiet some of critics.