INDIANAPOLIS — Quenton Jackson entered this season on a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, and most of his time as a professional basketball player to that point had come in the G League. In his first two NBA seasons, he made just 12 appearances and logged 146 minutes of action. He had never started a game.
Just over one month into his third campaign, Jackson’s career looks dramatically different. He has started five games in a row for the Pacers and played almost 135 minutes in just those outings. On the season, he’s up to 207 total minutes, and he’s been efficient from the field while being a solid, and needed, defender for the blue and gold. Teams rarely have to rely on two-way contract players this much, and the results of doing so can be rocky. But Jackson, a 26-year old guard, has been exactly what the Pacers have needed.
“I rock with his passion and his energy, man. I think he does things the right way,” Pacers center Myles Turner said of Jackson. The ball handler has become a beloved teammate quickly thanks to his personality and performance. “He was able to come to this league and really make a difference. He worked his way up.”
The Texas A&M product is shining in a role unlike what he is used to at the pro level. In his first season in the league, in which he received somewhat meaningful minutes for the Washington Wizards, Jackson had a usage rate near 18%. Last season with the Pacers G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, Jackson’s usage was 22%. In college, it was over 25%. While Jackson can be a combo guard, he has often been a ball handler tasked with finishing plays.
This season with the Pacers, he’s the fifth option in the starting five. The California native is on the floor to play hard, defend, and finish actions when the ball comes his way. His usage rate is just 16.2% as he slides into a newer role.
Yet he’s fit right in. With Ben Sheppard, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard out for multiple weeks, and Johnny Furphy missing some time along the way, the Pacers have been light on wing depth. Jackson has slid right into that opening.
“What we’ve asked him to do is to play his game within our system. And the first thing you notice about him is just how hard he goes,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Jackson. “He’s a combative defender. He’s a rim attacker. He’s going to bring intensity and competitiveness to the game.”
How Quenton Jackson has filled in for the Pacers
None of this would be possible if Jackson wasn’t hitting shots and defending capably. That sounds obvious, but it’s a tall task for a player of his experience level. Yet the three-year pro is taking on tough assignments and has been comfortable as a play finisher, making him valuable even in a big-minute role.
So far this season, Jackson is averaging 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. As a starter, those numbers jump to 10.8, 3.0, and 3.4 respectively. Those are more than enough contributions from a guard on a two-way contract — he is being paid half of the NBA’s zero years of service minimum salary this season.
This campaign to date, 52.4% of Jackson’s field goal attempts have dropped. 36.8% of his threes have ripped through the net. He’s athletic and finishing a strong percentage of his shots from inside 10 feet. The young guard has been efficient enough that Indiana can trust him with the ball in most situations, and from almost every spot on the floor.
“I feel good… it’s kind of something you dream of,” Jackson said of contributing to wins as a starter. He just wants to handle his business, and his teammates have been telling him to shoot even more. “For me coming in, I don’t want to do too much,” he added, saying that his change in responsibility hasn’t been too challenging. He grew up playing several unique roles and can handle different tasks.
Offensively, particularly if Jackson is the fifth option, the Pacers need him to make open looks every so often when the ball comes his way. He has so far, especially when jumping in as a starter. On the other end of the floor, he’s been equally helpful — his speed and athleticism have overlapped with a dog-like mentality to make him effective.
Jackson is stingy when defending ball handlers. With Indiana’s many injuries, the three-year pro has been asked to take on some tough assignments, and he has handled them well. In just the last three weeks, he has been the primary defender on players like Damian Lillard, LaMelo Ball, Jalen Green, Anfernee Simons, and CJ McCollum.
Green, Lillard, and Ball all shot under 35% when defended by Jackson, per NBA.com matchup data. For a player with just a dozen NBA appearances as of 36 days ago, he’s done a great job as a defensive piece.
“A lot of tough tasks. Just trying to stay solid,” Jackson said of his defense. “Forcing everything over the screens and just kind of being a pest out there. Aggravating whoever the ball handler is. Just giving my full effort and energy out there.”
Altogether, Jackson has shifted his game from being an athletic on-ball attacker to a terrific role player for the Pacers. For a banged up Indiana group that has needed everyone to take on tougher roles and pitch in, he’s been important so far this year.
The blue and gold currently have a +1.2 net rating with Jackson on the court and a -3.34 net rating when he’s on the bench. Playing alongside a starting five that is finally clicking is boosting those numbers. But Jackson has made shots and played with force on defense. He’s been impactful in a noticeable way, and the numbers show it.
Jackson’s role will change once the team gets healthier — until that happens, the Indiana Pacers will need him. He’s been great in his new role so far.
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