Milwaukee Bucks youngster Andre Jackson Jr. won’t be in contention for this season’s Rookie of the Year title. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that the 22-year-old has found relatively consistent minutes off the bench for the Bucks.
Be that as it may, there’s no denying that the future is bright for the 6-foot-6 shooting guard. Head coach Adrian Griffin had nothing but high praise for Jackson as the rookie shot-caller opened up about what this young man brings to the table for the squad.
Milwaukee Bucks Coach Believes Andre Jackson Jr. Is Going Places
Jackson, the 36th overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, isn’t exactly what you would call a high-profile rookie. However, it is clear that the Bucks have unearthed a gem in the former UConn standout — one who could very well develop into a key member of the squad in the not-so-distant future.
According to Griffin, the most noteworthy thing about Jackson is that the kid has his head in the right place:
“I always say you can never know how far hard work can take you,” Griffin said, via Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop. “He works extremely hard on his game, extremely hard on the things he knows he needs to develop. He’s shooting threes. Before and after practice, he’s always putting in extra time on his game. I say he’s gonna go really far just because two things I always look at are your work ethic and your character. He has a great work ethic and he’s such a high-character guy.”
Veterans Love Andre Jackson Jr.
Griffin then described how Jackson has grown on the team’s veterans over the course of the season. Apparently, a number of elder statesmen have already taken him under their wing with the hope of helping Jackson tap into his massive potential.
“He listens,” Griffin continued. “A lot of veteran guys really gravitate to him because he soaks up a lot of knowledge that they give him. They want to see him succeed. All our veteran guys grab him before and after practices, and you see them over there talking to him, even during games. They just love a player like that that competes every possession, that lays it all on the line. He’s a team-first guy, extremely coachable.
“It kind of sticks out a little bit on this roster because of his athleticism. This is a guy that can jump to the moon. He can guard multiple positions. He’s kind of like what the league has gravitated to as far as that athletic wing that can do multiple things on the court. He just finds ways to impact the game. That’s why I love him out there. He’s a winner. he’s just trying to find ways to help his team win.”
It is clear that Coach Griff has a lot of admiration for Jackson, which means that the young man will not have a shortage of opportunities this season. For Jackson, it now becomes a matter of taking advantage of his chances whenever they come.
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