AJax will be heading into his sophomore NBA season
In the next installment of our Ranking the Roster series, now second-year guard Andre Jackson Jr. files in at No. 11.
A rookie off the national champion University of Connecticut Huskies, Jackson was selected by the Bucks with the 36th overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. He had his fingerprints all over that title run, earning the title of captain from his teammates and playing a pivotal role in the Final Four under Dan Hurley in his junior season.
It didn’t take long for Jackson’s identity to find its place with the Bucks. Seemingly right out of the gates, he was able to inflict his intense playing style of being an Energizer bunny and defending multiple positions on the floor. He leveraged length and wingspan to close up passing lanes and combined with his lateral quickness, was able to make disruptions that quickly caught the eyes of Bucks fans. Among a team of veterans, Jackson’s youth immediately began to springboard the desire for him to start among the Bucks faithful.
On the offensive side of the ball, he was able to showcase his playmaking through facilitation of the basketball. He never boasted a primary playmaking role through scoring, but that wasn’t what the Bucks needed from him. Rather, he was content with filling out a secondary playmaking identity, which fit in just fine with the scoring that Milwaukee boasted.
The biggest positive though? That energy. Sometimes, it just seemed as if he had a rocket booster attached to his back. As the Bucks continue to grow older, any signs of youth like the energy AJax exemplified is a welcomed sight. That energy develops into hustle plays, rebounds, and momentum shifts, allowing him to strike a positive tone on offense despite not being as lethal of a scoring threat as others.
However, despite all the positives, there were some growing classic rookie growing pains that came for Jackson. On the offensive side, one of his biggest roadblocks was coughing up the basketball. In college, that was a blemish that stuck with him and reared its head at the professional level with all the defensive schemes he saw. That’ll be something that he wants to improve on in his sophomore campaign.
Additionally, his inconsistency on the offensive end in regards to scoring will be something that he’ll look to flip the script on. As I mentioned above, scoring was just an attribute that wasn’t in the cards for Jackson. He struggled with his 3-point shot and could never develop a groove from the perimeter. When he failed to be a presence from 3-point land, it locked up the team’s offense and never made it easy for him to stretch the floor.
Then, transitioning to the defensive side of the ball, sometimes his energetic motor proved to be too much. He’d overcommit on a possession and be too aggressive at times, resulting in unnecessary fouls. Doc Rivers and others have always mentioned how defensive growing pains are evident in so many rookies across the league. This will surely be something that AJax looks to improve on in his second season with the Bucks.
In the end, it’s clear that Jackson is still a developing player. He’ll be on the bench given the addition of Gary Trent Jr., but that will give him time to continue learning the game and find his footing. At the end of the day (it feels like I’m quoting Giannis by saying that), the talent is there for him. His potential on defense and his playmaking ability on the offensive side has shown flashes of him having the ability to truly impact this team down the road. However, there are some key things he needs to improve on to really take the next steps and unlock a larger role on the team moving forward.
Alright, now let’s get to the polls. Let’s see what you, the reader, has to say! Taking a look at next spring, where do you see Andre Jackson Jr. fitting in on the Bucks’ playoff rotation?
Now, who will be the next Buck up? The choice is in your hands. Vote below!
Both of these polls will close at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Stay tuned for the rest of our series!