On a historic night while NBA legend Kobe Bryant was being celebrated at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, this season’s youngest player GG Jackson II was creating history at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Coincidentally, the very same night, the 19-year-old Jackson became the youngest player ever to score over 25 points off the bench, dethroning a record previously held by Bryant himself.

The 45th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Jackson II, had already locked down a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies but after stepping up on multiple occasions and now after having dethroned the Hall of Famer, Bryant, from his previously held record, the Grizzlies have solidified a 4-year contract with the rising superstar.

Even though he was not originally intended to be a part of the rotation to open the 23-24 campaign, on account of the Grizzlies camp being riddled with injuries, a path has been paved for young Jackson to step up and seize the opportunities thrown his way and seize he did!

Rookie Turning Heads

In their last match-up against the Chicago Bulls, though the Grizzlies lost 110-118, the performance rendered by the rookie GG Jackson not only turned heads but brokered deals too. Jackson scored a career-high of 27 points on 50% shooting from the floor showcasing his skill-set to coaches and fans alike.

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GG Jackson is the only player from South Carolina in the league currently. Before the Bulls game, GG was averaging 8.9 points and 3.2 rebounds on 41.9% shooting from the field. While his starting appearances may see a decrease once the other players regain their health, Jackson should still be on the regular rotation with his impressive performances.

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From the looks of it, young rookie Jackson has stepped into giant shoes after breaking Kobe’s long-held record. One of many records set by the Hall of Famer. Will GG Jackson ever strive for an 81-point game one day? While it’s too early to make any predictions, Jackson undoubtedly seems to be on the right track! An exciting journey awaits him and the fans.

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