ESPN: Dragan Bender, Josh Jackson disappoint in Summer League
Jul 16, 2018, 9:33 AM | Updated: 2:59 pm
It was easy for Las Vegas sportsbooks to peg the Phoenix Suns as Vegas Summer League favorites.
It was predictable that No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton could produce even when double-teamed and schemed against. The Suns backcourt included two players who not only had NBA experience but motivation. Shaq Harrison’s and Davon Reed’s non-guaranteed contracts were on the line, and they played like it.
Phoenix even had two additional rookies expected to make the 2018-19 roster, Mikal Bridges and Elie Okobo, who flashed their individual skillsets.
But the Suns also brought in two experienced Summer League players with tons of NBA run.
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Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender, No. 4 overall picks in the past two drafts, had their chances to break out. Neither did.
Three ESPN panelists out of five mentioned one or both of Jackson and Bender when asked about the biggest disappointment in Vegas.
Reporter Jorge Sedano listed Bender as such after the 20-year-old, third-year forward averaged 6.2 points on 37 percent shooting to go with 5.2 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game.
He has averaged almost as many points as shots. Neither total is very inspiring (both around 7 per game). He’s going down the path of a guy who might not be on the Suns’ roster for much longer.
Bender scored inefficiently but also struggled to make an impact in other areas of the box score.
While his defense was adequate, his lack of production (0.4 blocks, 0.4 steals and 0.4 assists per game) added more concern as his lack of aggression persisted, wrote draft analyst Mike Schmitz.
Touted as a playmaking big man early in his career, Bender finished with two assists and 11 turnovers, and he has struggled to have much of an impact when he’s not making shots. He doesn’t turn 21 until mid-November, so there’s still hope, but his lack of toughness and streaky shooting were front and center.
On the other hand, Jackson’s struggles were less predictable. After a flurry of a finish to his rookie season in the NBA, Jackson fell back into bad habits of his first Summer League. In 24 minutes per game over three contests, the small forward averaged 10.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Jackson took 41 shots, second-most to point guard Shaq Harrison’s 53 but in two less games.
He played in three of Phoenix’s five games and after being shut down wore a brace on his hand due to a minor injury, reported 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.
Before the injury, Jackson hit 10 of those 41 shot attempts (24 percent), struggling to finish at the rim and settling for too many jumpers. Like Bender, Jackson struggled to find his niche within first year coach Igor Kokoskov’s offense, said Kevin Pelton.
Granted, Jackson played his usual impressive defense, but instead of working on setting up Ayton, he spent most of his time on offense jacking horrendous shots off the dribble. Jackson shot 24 percent (10-of-41) and that appropriately reflects the quality of the shots he attempted. Yes, summer league is about players expanding their games, but under no circumstances should Jackson or anyone but the best off-the-dribble shooters play as he did.
Schmitz remains optimistic a training camp to gain comfort and a reduced role will help Jackson adjust to the Suns’ new offense.
He wasn’t short on impressive moments with a couple explosive defensive plays and slashes to the rim, but his hitchy jumper and subpar decision-making stole the headlines in what should have been a breakout tournament for him. However, once the regular season hits, he should be able to slide into more of an off-ball role, focusing on defending his position, getting out in transition, moving off the ball and keeping things simple.
