GG Jackson II Makes Statement After Name Surfaces in Grizzlies Trade Rumors

GG Jackson II made both of his 3-point attempts Wednesday night in 19 minutes off the bench.

He finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies opened the season with a 123-103 win over the Utah Jazz at FedExForum. He went 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line, and he added 2 blocks.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Oct. 15 that Jackson and Walter Clayton Jr. had come up in trade talks. Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal reported that night that Memphis was not in trade discussions involving Jackson.

On Monday, the Grizzlies waived Clayton and Micah Peavy to get down to 15 standard contracts.

Jackson stayed.

Memphis kept up its pace and attacked the glass coming out of halftime. The bench outscored Utah’s reserves 46-34, with Jerami Grant scoring 15 and Jackson adding his 12.

“We can give teams a lot of different looks with our size and length,” Jackson said after the game in a walk-off interview. “Our first group being able to break down, play a little bit slower, get into our sets, and our second group being able to just run them.”

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said during the preseason that he wants enough lineup options to fit different kinds of nights.

Scotty Pippen Jr. had 9 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals off the bench. Quinten Post scored 7 points in 19 minutes, and Cam Spencer added 3.

Five Grizzlies did not get off the bench, and Isaiah Stewart sat out with a left ankle sprain.

Jackson said the defense was huge after halftime, too.

Utah turned the ball over 18 times, Memphis scored 17 points off those turnovers, and the Grizzlies finished with 23 fast-break points to Utah’s 9.

“It feels good, especially the way we won,” Jackson explained. “It lets us know that all the hard work we put over the summer will definitely pay off this year.”

Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 in the win. When Jerome came back to the bench, Jackson welcomed him to the 40-point club.

Jackson’s own came as a rookie. He scored 44 points with 12 rebounds against Denver in the 2023-24 regular-season finale on April 14, 2024. No Memphis rookie has scored more in a game.

Memphis took Jackson 45th overall in the 2023 draft. He started that season on a two-way contract, signed a multi-year deal in February 2024, and made the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 14.6 points in 48 games.

The youngest player in the NBA that season, he averaged 20.4 points over his final 18 appearances.

Foot surgery limited him to 30 games in 2024-25. Last season, he averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 55 games while shooting 49.6% from the field.

After his name surfaced in trade chatter before the season, Jackson opened the year by giving Memphis efficient scoring, rebounding and defensive activity off the bench.

Whether that ultimately strengthens his place in the Grizzlies' long-term plans or his value elsewhere remains to be seen.

Next up are the Golden State Warriors on Friday at 9 p.m. CT, the first stop on a four-game road trip.