For five straight Indiana Pacers games, young center Isaiah Jackson wasn’t on the rotation. That was the longest stretch the young big man hasn’t played significant basketball for the Pacers since the 2022 All-Star hiatus. The team changed their rotation in mid-December and Jackson lost playing time as a result.
To get some replays, Jackson played in two games last week for Indiana’s G-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He played back-to-back, which was a great way for the 20-year-old to rack up reps and keep his conditioning in the right place.
“I feel like I’ve benefited a lot from playing with the Mad Ants, both mentally and physically. I felt like the mental aspect that I really needed was really needed,” Jackson said of his brief stint in the G League. He played 61 minutes in two games and averaged 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. “Just a mental break where I can just play and just do what I do. Just stay in shape physically.”
For Jackson, these G-League opportunities are about getting more chances to play. Because he’s not on the Pacers rotation, he doesn’t get game replays. Operations at Fort Wayne change that.
That’s why he agreed to play in the G League – he searched it. “Something in me just wanted to get better, get better. I’m sitting, I’m not getting any better,” Jackson said. Wanting to work on his stamina, he ended up getting heavy minutes in a duel with the Mad Ants.
In terms of actual skills, Jackson wanted to work on expanding his range. In two games with the Mad Ants, he attempted five three-pointers. He’s won six all season with the Pacers. “The guys down there just told me to kick the ball,” he said. He noted that Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told him to do a couple of three-pointers while he was at Fort Wayne. “I’m just trying to stretch the floor. Everyone here wants me to do it,” added the 20-year-old tall man.
Although Jackson is not currently in his NBA club’s rotation, he is as motivated as ever. He wants to be great, and opportunities in the Mad Ants help him in that quest. He also played a few games with Fort Wayne as a rookie and was similarly excellent on those outings.
“Sometimes I’m very self-centered on these kinds of occasions. Back to back my body hurts. I make excuses,” Jackson said. “I feel like God brought me here for a reason. I’ll just take this opportunity and run with it,” he added.
Less than 15 minutes after saying that, the Pacers announced that reserve center Jalen Smith had a hand injury and would miss their game on Friday. That meant Jackson was back on the rotation for one night, playing back-to-back-to-back. It would be his first NBA action in 11 days.
He took advantage. Jackson finished with 12 points, a rebound and two blocks in a win. He put down five of his six shots, marking his seventh game of the year in which he shot over 80%. His minutes were critical to the Pacers’ victory, and his G League stint helped keep him engaged and ready.
“It was a great team win tonight. Of course I’m patting myself on the back, but I’d also like to pat everyone else on the back, they did their thing tonight too,” said the young big man after the game.
Jackson scored nine points in the first quarter, and that changed the game. The Portland Trail Blazers took an early 10-0 lead, but Jackson helped steady his team and the Pacers were just three points behind by the end of the quarter. He was crucial to their comeback efforts.
“How locked up he was, man. You can tell when he’s dialed in,” Pacers forward Oshae Brissett said of what impressed him about Jackson’s performance. “I feel like he did a great job coming in and just knowing where he needed to be, being there at the right time and doing everything right. Rebounds, boxing, screening and rolls. And just being there and being active, and that’s what we need every time he comes into play.”
Jackson will likely retire from the rotation once Smith returns. But he showed this week he can help the Pacers in a pinch, and he showed the value of G League appearances. As the young big man works on his game and tries to find a path on the pitch, more G League appearances could follow. You will help both Jackson and the Pacers.
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