GG Jackson’s historic scoring outburst draws rave Grizzlies reviews

However, the Grizzlies did not just fizzle out of the season without making some noise, especially from rookie GG Jackson, who stood out in Memphis’ regular-season finale, albeit in a loss. Jackson balled out for the Grizzlies in that contest, dropping 44 points with 12 rebounds, an assist, a block, and two steals while shooting 17/36 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers in 44 minutes. With nothing on the line for Memphis, Jackson played with not so much pressure on his shoulder to hinder him from playing his game, as noted by the team’s official X account.

@_ggjackson scoring 44 points, has set the Grizzlies franchise record for most points in a game by a rookie.

Jackson was already on a heater heading into the Nuggets game. After scoring 22 points on a salty 7/21 shooting from the floor in a 110-98 road loss at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers last Wednesday, Jackson went off for 31 points on 12/23 shooting from the field with seven 3-0pointers on 13 attempts from behind the arc in last Friday’s 123-20 defeat to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at home.

Still feeling hot, the former South Carolina Gamecocks star torched the Nuggets for a career-high in points and a performance that had not been seen before from a rookie not just in the history of the Grizzlies franchise but ever in the NBA (via StatMuse.

GG Jackson tonight:

44 PTS
12 REB
4 3P

The first rookie in NBA history to reach those numbers in a game.

It’s quite an achievement for Jackson, especially when considering the fact that he was selected just 45th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. He also started the season non a two-way deal with Memphis before the team decided to ink him to a four-year contract for the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season with a club option worth just $2.4 million in the 2026-27 NBA campaign.

“It’s the most adversity I’ve ever had to deal with mentally,” Jackson said after the Nuggets game about his challenging first season in the league, per the Associated Press (via ESPN). “My entire career with basketball, everything was given and super smooth. … I just had to sharpen up and polish,” Jackson added.

Jackson also told reporters after the game that he was most certainly going for 50 points.

Grizzlies react to GG Jackson’s scoring outburst vs. Nuggets,

Jaren Jackson, who were one of the many Grizzlies players held out of the game versus the Nuggets, had this to say about GG Jackson following the regular-season finale:

“GG could be playing aau somewhere 1/1,” the Grizzlies big man said.

Meanwhile, head coach Taylor Jenkins reflected on the season his team just had and offered a glimpse of the Grizzlies’ outlook going forward.

“Proud of the fight…a lot of great things to build on from this past season and a lot of things that should motivate us going into next year,” Jenkins said during the postgame press conference.