NBA teams draft particular players based on the potential they have to succeed at the next level. Every NBA Draft prospect has potential. Of the top prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft, none have been speculated to have more potential than Kansas’ Josh Jackson.
The star freshman out of Southfield, Michigan has been one of the more glorified prospects of the draft. A consensus top five pick before he even committed to the Jayhawks, Josh Jackson has what it takes to be great in the NBA. The question is, what exactly makes this talented wing so highly touted?
Physique:
Josh Jackson is the most physically gifted athlete in this draft. For a wing, his 6’8″ 205-210 pound frame is excellent, and his other physical attributes are even better. Jackson is absurdly athletic and this makes him a menace in the open floor. His bounce off both one, and two feet, makes it seems like he is jumping off a trampoline. Anyone brave enough to get in the way of Jackson in the lane is asking to get dunked on.
Along with the leaping ability, Josh Jackson is strong. Upper body strength allows him to body through down low and makes him an effective rebounder, especially on the offensive glass where he grabbed 2.3 rebounds per game. Being so strong adds the proficiency to his perimeter defense as well which has potential to be elite. He also has solid vision, averaging 3 assists per game which plays in to his playmaking capability. It’s difficult to find prospects at this stage with this many physical gifts.
Statistics:
Josh Jackson put up extremely solid numbers last season. He had a base average of 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, and he shot 55% on two point shots and 38% on three point shots. In addition, Jackson put up stellar rates in Player Efficiency Rating (24.1), True Shooting Percentage (56%), Usage Percentage (27.2%), and Box Plus/Minus (10.7)
Jackson’s scoring continually got better as the year went on. He averaged 14.7 points per game on 27% three point shooting over the months of November and December. The scoring then rose to 17.6 points per game on 42.8% three point shooting over January and February. The scoring would tip off to 16.4 per game in five March games, where Kansas would fall in the Elite Eight.
Eye Test:
As previously mentioned, Josh Jackson has some outrageous bounce. In relation to that, he is very aggressive. The end result to those traits is a surplus of highlight reel dunks. In the open floor, his athleticism plays a part in his transition game. Last season Jackson was very good handling the ball and going coast-to-coast for scores in transition. Utilizing his change of pace is a big part of that, and so is his first step. With that, he can blow right by closeout defenders.
Jackson’s versatility just glistens on tape. He isn’t elite in any one area but can do a lot of things well. His spot up shooting with momentum from the perimeter was better than given credit for. He grabs rebounds at a really good rate, especially offensive rebounds in which he rises up for put back dunks. He is an exceptional playmaker particularly when down low, and, of course, can get in the lanes and score proficiently.
When fully committed on the defensive end, Josh Jackson has so much potential as a perimeter defender. The footwork is phenomenal, he has quick hands which frequently pokes the ball away, and he has exceptional lateral movement which makes it difficult for ball handlers to get past him. Jackson knows how to recognize plays as they’re happening and quickly closes out on potentially open shooters before the ball goes up.
Weaknesses:
To point out the elephant in the room, Josh Jackson’s jump shooting mechanics are simply awkward. The jumper itself has shown to be uncoordinated. There is a low release point and at times he releases it on the way down from his jump rather than at the highest point of it. And his elbow pokes out which always downgrades a jumper.
Another noticeable factor in Jackson’s jumper is the disparity of which shots he hits and which he misses. Jackson converted on most of his overall threes when shooting with upward momentum. When upright and standing still on his pull-up shots, Jackson converted at a lesser rate.
To go along with that, Josh Jackson lacks one of the more valuable aspects needed for elite wing prospects. Jackson isn’t a shot creator. His pull-up jumper is a major struggle. On mid-range jumpers, he shot a mere 32%, and he often fails to utilize the pick-and-roll as well as most wings in the NBA today do. The inability to create offense for himself is a cause for concern.
Notable Notes:
Josh Jackson scored in double-figures in all but three games his freshman season, including nine 20-point games and a career high 31 points against Texas Tech. Along with that, Jackson shot at least 50% from the field in 19 of 35 games and at least 40% in 26 of 35 games.
Josh Jackson put up 13 double-doubles this past season, all of them with points and rebounds. Jackson also had at least one assist in all but two games in his lone college season, including a career high of 7 assists. Needless to say, he may get a triple-double or two in his NBA career.
NBA Comparison: Andre Igoudala
This is kind of a basic comparison, but the former All-Star is, in essence, a mirror image of Josh Jackson in terms of size and overall abilities. Neither are/were particularly skilled but both thrived with great physical ability. Igoudala has always been regarded as an elite defensive player as well, something that Josh Jackson will look to grow into in the future.
