NBA draft: Michigan State's Jaren Jackson Jr. near end of 'surreal' process
Ask Jaren Jackson Jr. about the NBA draft process, and the former Michigan State freshman forward will say it’s surreal. He’ll add that it can’t be compared to anything.
That seems an apt description for the past few months of Jackson’s life, as he prepares for the next step of his basketball career. Ever since announcing his decision to leave MSU after one season, Jackson has been examined relentlessly by teams across the league.
He’s worked out for some, like the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks. He’s been grilled by others, and even fielded one question earlier this summer at the NBA Combine that could certainly be considered surreal.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder, they asked me to sell them a pen, like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’” Jackson told reporters in New York on Wednesday afternoon. “I just thought that was funny. We started off with that, so I was taken aback a little bit. I’ve seen the movie so I was able to kinda do it, but that was really interesting.”
Jackson is widely considered one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Most mock drafts have him taken within the top five picks.
The 6-foot-11, 242-pounder is a unique prospect. He’s a big man who can switch on defense, guard smaller players and shoot from outside. That blend of skills places Jackson at the forefront of the NBA’s current evolution — which he’s aware of.
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“At times, I hear that I’m right on time for where the game is going,” Jackson said. “A lot of bigs handle the ball, and be versatile, and they’re able to make plays. So they can relieve stress off the guards.”
Jackson developed that versatility from a young age. His father, an NBA veteran, taught him how to shoot — and made him shoot, over and over again.
Jackson, meanwhile, learned how to handle the ball out of necessity.
“I used to be shorter, so you had to handle it a little bit,” he said.
His full skill set was on display last season. Jackson burst onto the scene as a significant contributor for the highly ranked Spartans. Though he averaged just 22 minutes per game, Jackson still posted 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. He also shot 39.6 percent on 2.7 three-point attempts per game and 79.7 percent from the free-throw line.
That output, coupled with an impressive physical frame — his wingspan was measured as 7 feet 5¼ at the NBA draft combine — means Jackson won’t be sweating things out Thursday night. There is no question whether he’ll be drafted; the only question is how high.
For now, Jackson is heeding his father’s advice. He’s taking everything in, weird questions and all, and staying within the moment.
“You get drafted one time,” Jackson said. “Enjoy it, but know that right after that the real work starts. You’ve got to keep a level head and understand that there’s going to be pressure, but embrace it.”
Contact Orion Sang: osang@freepress.com.