Philadelphia 76ers 2018-19 season preview: Demetrius Jackson

By Christopher Kline | Sep 11, 2018

Demetrius Jackson | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Will Demetrius Jackson carve out a niche with the Philadelphia 76ers this season?

The Philadelphia 76ers kick off the preseason on Sept. 25, giving fans a free show with the Blue x White scrimmage at the Palestra. Then the real preseason grind starts, featuring games against Melbourne United, the Orlando Magic and two against the Dallas Mavericks — both of which will be played in China.

One key player to watch during that stretch will be Demetrius Jackson, who earned his second two-way contract with the Sixers this summer. Following a strong Summer League showing, he now shifts his focus to one goal: making the roster full-time.

With all 15 roster spots filled, the Sixers don’t have much room for flexibility. With that said, Jerryd Bayless is still a wildcard of sorts. He’s liable to be traded or waived at any moment, which could open up another spot (assuming it doesn’t go to, say, Jamal Crawford).

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Jackson obviously has some competition at the point guard spot, with Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz and T.J. McConnell expected to consume most primary ball handling duties. With that said, the former five-star recruit has the talent needed to make an impact.

At 6-foot-1, Jackson doesn’t fit the ideal archetype for modern NBA point guards. He’s a one-position defender and isn’t particularly great in that area. He’s also a below-average shooter, something he’ll need to change next season.

Drafted the same year as Ben Simmons, I once had Jackson in my top 20. He ended up sliding down draft boards, though, falling to the Celtics at 45. What originally looked like another Celtics steal turned into a disappointment, with Jackson quickly falling off the roster.

A score-first guard with obvious deficiencies, Jackson will need to prove that his talent is more than that. Raw talent doesn’t translate to NBA success, and he’ll need to improve in several key areas to earn a long-term spot with the Sixers.

Jackson earned a second chance after a solid audition last season, flashing his upside in the G-League. In 26 games at the lower level, he averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in 28.8 minutes per game. He also hit 35.9 percent of his three-pointers, something that hasn’t translated to the NBA level yet.

If his shooting does translate and he continues to build on his value as a slasher and playmaker, Jackson has the makings of an NBA-level backup point guard. His Summer League performance was solid, but there were many who thought someone else deserved his roster spot.

Simply put, while the talent is there, Jackson needs to prove his worth soon. His leash — both with the Sixers and in the NBA — is running increasingly short. He will have 45 NBA games with the Sixers before they’re forced to make a decision on his long-term roster fate.

Barring an impressive breakout under unforeseen circumstances, it’s very possible that Jackson will inevitably bounce to another team’s farm system, if not overseas.

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2017-18 stat line: 2.7 PPG / 0.3 RPG / 1.3 APG / 0.3 SPG / 0.0 BPG / 75 FG% / 100 3FG% / 50 FT% (3 games)

Rough 2018-19 stat line projection: 2.5 PPG / 0.5 RPG / 1.5 APG / 0.3 SPG / 0.1 BPG / 40 FG% / 25 3FG% / 65 FT%