NBA D-League Update
Published on November 26, 2013 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
IDAHO HAS A GEM IN JACKSON
His name is French. His game is American, or, to be more specific, Idahoan.
Pierre Jackson, after a brief pit stop in France, made his way back to the States and settled in Idaho as the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Development League Draft by the Stampede.
This came after a summer spent with the New Orleans Pelicans, who acquired Jackson in a 2013 NBA Draft-day trade, after the 5-10 guard was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 42nd overall pick. Got all that?
It actually gets a little more complicated. Jackson, who averaged 30.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in two wins over Bakersfield to begin his pro career, is still the property of the Pelicans, and not eligible to be called up by another NBA team.
New Orleans assumed Jackson would spend the season in France, rather than join a crowded backcourt situation, with Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Brian Roberts, Anthony Morrow and Austin Rivers all ahead of him on the depth chart. The problem was, Jackson got homesick and decided to play this season in the NBA D-League. In order for an NBA team other than New Orleans to make a play for Jackson, it would have to trade for his rights.
Jackson is no stranger to Idaho, having spent his first two collegiate seasons at the College of Southern Idaho, before transferring to Baylor. As a sophomore in 2010-11, Jackson led the College of Southern Idaho to the NJCAA Division 1 National Championship, averaging 18.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
"It was a great experience," Jackson told the Idaho Statesman of his previous stop in Idaho. "So when my agent told me that I was coming back to my old stomping grounds, I was pretty excited to get back."
At Baylor, Jackson was a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection. As a senior, he set the school's single-season scoring record with 712 points, and finished his career ranked 14th on Baylor's all-time scoring list with 1,235 points, and third in assists (478).
Despite his size, Jackson's athleticism and scoring instincts had several NBA teams looking at him in the late first round, which would have led to a guaranteed contract for the 2013-14 season. Instead Jackson will either play the season out in the NBA D-League, or hope the Pelicans either have a need for him, or trade him.
"I think I can be one of the better guards in the D-League," Jackson said. "It's just another steppingstone for me. I'm used to having to prove my point, so this is just another steppingstone."
Prospect Report
James Johnson, Rio Grande Valley Vipers -- Things haven't gone quite according to script for Johnson, the former 16th overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, who as recently as two seasons ago averaged 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 62 games with the Toronto Raptors. He spent the 2012-13 season with the Sacramento Kings -- his third team in four seasons -- and failed to make an impact, averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 54 games. Johnson, who still flaunts an interesting mix of size (6-9) and skill, no doubt had big offers pouring in from overseas, but opted to enter his name into the 2013 NBA D-League Draft in order to "stay in the country and keep that NBA feel." His talents were on full display in the Vipers' opening game this past weekend, as he finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a win over the L.A. D-Fenders. From an NBA perspective, Johnson is viewed a bit of a tweener. He's not an elite level wing athlete, and not quite big enough to be a full-time four, but his skill level, age (26) and experience still carry some intrigue for NBA scouts.
NEWS & NOTES
Bursting out of the Gate: Top Performances from Opening Weekend
Other known commodities fared well in their season debuts -- Devin Ebanks, Ryan Kelly and Ron Howard, to name a few -- but Richard Howell's eye-popping performance earned him a spot at the end of this list. Already considered an elite rebounder, the undersized power forward will force his way onto the NBA radar if he controls the paint like he did in his first two games, with 42 points on 72 percent shooting, 25 rebounds, six steals and four blocks.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Golden State Warriors have recalled Dewayne Dedmon and Nemanja Nedovic from the Santa Cruz Warriors. Both players were assigned to the Warriors D-League affiliate on Sunday and participated in Sunday night's 117-103 victory over the Austin Toros at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. Nedovic registered a game-high 31 points, while Dedmon tallied 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds ... Quincy Douby, the third overall pick of the 2013 NBA D-League Draft (and former first-round pick in the 2006 NBA Draft) has left the Sioux Falls Skyforce and signed to play for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. In two games with Sioux Falls, Douby averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 steals.
Today's Quote
Santa Cruz guard SETH CURRY, on his approach to his time in the NBA D-League:
"I've just got to go out and focus on playing the same way I would (in the NBA). Just be aggressive. I can't go out there thinking I've got to kill just to show everybody, prove everybody wrong. I just have to go out there, stay calm and play. I think I can do a good job of that. I'm definitely not where I want to be"
SB Nation, Nov. 26, 2013
NBA G League Stories from November 26, 2013
- NBA D-League Update - G League
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