‘Playing the right way’. That’s what former Indiana basketball star Trayce Jackson-Davis is priding himself in. He did so at the college level and is taking that to the next level, beginning in NBA Summer League action.
Jackson-Davis, who was selected 57th overall in last month’s NBA Draft, made his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday for the Warriors. The long-awaited performance was due to a hamstring injury that kept him out of the majority of summer league action.
On Thursday, Jackson-Davis finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds in 20 minutes against the Rockets. Jackson-Davis also got the start.
“It was great,” Jackson-Davis said on 95.7 The Game with Steiny & Guru in San Francisco on Friday. “Just being able to get out there, be with my teammates, getting to play with them, watch from the sidelines and trying to be a good teammate. It was great. It was a blessing.”
The 6-foot-9 forward, while wishing he got more action this summer, is preparing for more than just a reserve role for the Warriors this season. Not only did he get a two-year guarantee and four-year deal from the Warriors, he also got a vote of confidence from GM Mike Dunleavy about making the official roster.
Watch: Trayce Jackson-Davis scores 14 points in NBA Summer League debut for Warriors
Now, he’s getting an even bigger one from two-time MVP and teammate Steph Curry.
“Getting to talk to Steph and CP (Chris Paul) and how I can help the team. Steph came up to me and said ‘we are trying to find guys that play the right way and you fit that bill,’ and that’s what I pride myself in,” Jackson-Davis said. “Is playing the right way and doing what coach asks me to do and try to make the most of my opportunities.”
What makes Jackson-Davis so appealing at this level and especially with the Warriors is his playmaking ability and finishing at the rim. It’s been noted by NBA scouts, head coach Steve Kerr and others. Jackson-Davis sees that opportunity as well.
“The way they space the floor, getting guys open, setting ball screens, flipping to the rim, dunks lobs, doing stuff of that nature,” Jackson-Davis said. “I think that’s how I’ll be able to contribute to this team.”
Jackson-Davis isn’t your typical rookie. He’s one of the most decorated players in the 2023 draft and at one of the most historically great programs. While he’s already 23-years old, it’s the experience and maturity that sparked the Warriors interest.
Look: Trayce Jackson-Davis has his Golden State Warriors locker next to Steph Curry
With the Warriors, they are in a win-now mindset with still a small championship window left. Adding the maturity of Jackson-Davis to the roster is an asset, even as a role player.
“The biggest thing he (Steve Kerr) asked me to do, the biggest thing he’s happy about is the maturity I have,” Jackson-Davis said of Steve Kerr. “Obviously I’m still a rookie but being an older, more mature guy. Making the right basketball plays, watching my film. Being able to pass, making smart IQ plays.”
And, it wasn’t only a fit that the Warriors liked. Trayce Jackson-Davis had the Warriors high on his list as well.
“They were a huge fit. They were probably first or second in teams I wanted to play for,” Jackson-Davis added. “They were my first workout … they came and saw me workout in LA (Los Angeles), did an interview with me in Chicago. They were a team that were very invested in what I was doing.
“It shows how this organization is and how they feel about me. I’m a really loyal guy … I’m going to try to make the most out of this situation. A team that believes in me like they do, they deserve my all.”
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