What kind of role will Justin Jackson have with the Sacramento Kings this upcoming season?
A Royal Pain continues its series where we predict the type of roles each player on the Kings’ roster will play in this upcoming year. The player we will analyze in this piece is Justin Jackson who the Kings recently selected in the first round of the NBA draft.
Path To Current Minutes
Expect Jackson to see some legit time on the NBA hardwood this season. Currently, the small forwards on the Kings are Jackson, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Vince Carter. Most likely, Jackson will not be the main wing player for the Kings. But there is the possibility of him being a rotation player coming off the bench.
Jackson may be a rookie, but he is a player that has the ability to contribute right away. His summer league outing not too long ago showed that his jump shot can catch fire quickly and his defense can bother opponents. If on the court, expect him to be a 3-and-D type of player for his team.
Way To Increase Minutes
Right now I have Jackson as the third best small forward on the Kings, but I foresee there being a chance that he can bump up on the depth chart. For one, Jackson would be playing behind Vince Carter, who is entering his 20th NBA season.
Although Carter can still contribute on the court, he is not a player anymore that can produce at a high level while playing a lot of minutes at the same time. As the season goes on, I can definitely see Jackson gaining more of Carter’s minutes if he continues to improve. If Jackson is able to make three-pointers consistently and play solid defense, Kings fans could be seeing a lot more of #25 as the season goes on.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think Jackson will start the season with a minimal role on the Kings, but his minutes will increase throughout the year. I am confident that Jackson will improve as the season goes on, and with Vince Carter getting older, Jackson will be able to take on some of Carter’s minutes in the later stages of the season.
Jackson is a player that all Kings fans should be rooting for as he is part of the major rebuild that the franchise is currently in. The production isn’t there yet for the former Tar Heel, but there is been early optimism that he will reach his full potential.