With Ja Morant and other key guys out for the season, GG Jackson has stepped up to do his part for the Memphis Grizzlies. Turns out, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is fan of his work on the court after the two met in a game.
In that game, the Lakers strengthened their chance of making the playoffs by going home with the 136-124 win over Memphis. Rui Hachimura exploded with a 32-point performance to go along with 10 rebounds in 35 minutes. LeBron James posted a triple-double of 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists while All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell added 23 points and four assjsts.
Even without Ja Morant, the Grizzlies tried to put up a good fight as Desmond Bane led the team with 26 points and 16 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Jake LaRavia added 25 points from the bench.
The win was Los Angeles’ 41st of the season, which translates to a ninth seed in the Western Conference. The loss, meanwhile, dropped the Grizzlies to 13th place with 24 wins and 49 losses. Furthermore, the Lakers are drawing nearer to the eighth spot held by the Sacramento Kings, and they have a chance to get out of the Play-In Tournament if they keep their momentum up in the coming weeks.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Gives Memphis Grizzlies Rookie GG Jackson an Inspiring Message
After the game, James spoke about Grizzlies rookie GG Jackson and the body of work he’s building during his first year in the NBA. In a pair of videos posted by Dave McMenamin and Jonah Dylan:
LeBron James with some words of encouragement for Grizzlies’ intriguing young talent, GG Jackson II pic.twitter.com/h3gQuJStrX
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 28, 2024
LeBron James says he watched GG Jackson at Peach Jam and has followed his career since then.
“He’s gotten better and better every time he’s stepped out on the floor for this ball club.”
Also says he tried to reclassify (like GG did) and go pro after junior year of high school. pic.twitter.com/PYtppagPdb
— Jonah Dylan (@TheJonahDylan) March 28, 2024
During the game, Jackson tallied 10 points and four rebounds in 28 minutes as a starter for Memphis. This season, the rookie is currently averaging 13.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest.
Even without Morant and a season derailed by injuries, the Grizzlies may have found a gem in Jackson. Hopefully, his growth will continue in the coming seasons, especially when Memphis is at full power again.
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