Trayce Jackson-Davis caps off terrific December with first start and career night

It is just over two months into the rookie campaign for Trayce Jackson-Davis and he has emerged as not only a very good rotational piece for the Golden State Warriors right away, he also looks to be a part of their long-term plan.

Jackson-Davis has played in 20 games this season, averaging 5.7 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks. He’s averaging 12.7 minutes per game. But, it’s what Trayce Jackson-Davis has done recently that has put the rest of the NBA and the rookie class on notice.

The month of December was a breakout month for the former Indiana basketball All-American forward. In nine games, he averaged 9.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 18.9 minutes a game. He’s also shooting 67.2 percent from the floor.

Jackson-Davis also set some career-highs as well as records that hadn’t been set in over two decades. Jackson-Davis turned in performances that no NBA player had done since … 2001.

Earlier this month, Trayce Jackson-Davis had two-straight double-doubles while shooting 70 percent and also having 12+ rebounds.

That was the first time a player had a double-double, 12+ rebounds and shot better than 70 percent from the floor off the bench in back-to-back games since … his father, Dale Davis, from April 12-13, 2001 when he played on the Portland Trailblazers.

While that is a great feat in itself, he didn’t stop there. In total, six of the nine games in December turned out to be double-digit scoring performances for Jackson-Davis. In addition, he also had three double-doubles and his first NBA start.

That start came on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks, the final game of the month. Jackson-Davis turned in a career-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, six rebounds and two assists in a career-high 29 minutes.

“(Trayce) Playing like a seasoned vet, and he’s a rookie, which is great for the Dubs,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said earlier this month. “He’s looking like the steal of the draft.”

The Warriors have had an up-and-down start to the season, entering January with a 15-17 record, currently on a three-game losing streak.

“We haven’t found that grit that every good team needs, where you pull together and you just play for the group,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “We are not there yet and that’s a problem. We have great guys, but until every team connects in a way that is solely dedicated to winning each game, then we are going to be stuck in this place.”

But, it’s clear — no matter what role, how many minutes, start or come off the bench, Trayce Jackson-Davis is going to be in the rotation and play a pivotal role in some capacity throughout the remainder of the season.

“You can see the impact he makes,” said Steve Kerr last week.” He’s gonna play. He’s gonna be in the lineup … meaning he’s going to be in the rotation.”

The Warriors return to the floor on Jan. 2 against the Orlando Magic.

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