Phoenix Suns: 5 goals for Josh Jackson’s rookie season
1. Win Rookie of the Year
So far, we’ve pretty much described an ideal debut season for Josh Jackson: He comes out with a vengeance on the defensive end to make it his calling card, he shoots an underwhelming percentage from downtown but one the Suns can build on, he jells with his new teammates who will be around for quite awhile and he surpasses T.J. Warren as the new starter at the 3.
If Jackson does all these things, he still may be on the outside looking in with such a crowded Rookie of the Year race, but he’ll at least be on the fringe of the conversation.
Looking around the league, there are plenty of players who will get more opportunity than Jackson from the get-go, and that’s okay. Jackson and the Suns’ time is in the future, not in year one.
Suns pick Josh Jackson: "I love proving people wrong. Those teams that didn't draft me, one day, they WILL be sorry."
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 23, 2017
The explosive Dennis Smith Jr. could be the starting point guard for the Dallas Mavericks from day one. Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz will be wheeling and dealing in highly anticipated rookie seasons for a possibly playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers squad. Lonzo Ball will get all the attention any time he even sniffs double-digit assists…you get the idea.
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But the goal for any top-five pick should be winning Rookie of the Year, and if Jackson is able to overtake Warren’s minutes in the rotation early on, it’s possible his two-way play could earn him some votes.
Jackson would likely have to average something like a 15-7-3 stat line to even be considered in this conversation, with decent shooting marks and stout defense bolstering his case. He’d also need a little help from some of those aforementioned ROY favorites in the form of disappointing debut seasons.
The newest Suns rook is a long shot for the award because of an unsteady jumper and Warren’s presence. As we saw last year, Earl Watson isn’t going to just hand over minutes to rookies unless a post All-Star break mandate from the front office is attached.
However, Jackson also put up some monster numbers in Summer League and seems to thrive on doubters and critics.
"“I think my versatility, just my competitive spirit,” Jackson said when asked what makes him stand out. “I don’t think the other guys in this draft really care as much as I do. I don’t think they play as hard as I do, period. I think that’s what really makes me special. I refuse to fail, period.”"
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He may not get the opportunity from opening night, but for a young Suns team already embracing Josh Jackson as part of its bright future, perhaps he’ll surprise some people by not only taking Warren’s starting job, but throttling that promotion all the way to the Rookie of the Year Award.