As I write this, Memphis Grizzlies forward Josh Jackson is being subbed out of a basketball game. He’s leading his team in scoring; 19 points on 50 percent shooting. His team is up 30.
Given Jackson’s trajectory at the end of last season, you’d be forgiven for presuming this game was happening in the G-League. Or overseas. Or at the YMCA. But it took place between two NBA teams, two NBA teams currently slated for the playoffs.
Things were looking grim for Jackson’s career as recently as last summer. The 4th overall pick of the NBA Draft just two years prior, he’d played himself out of favor with the perpetually awful Phoenix Suns.