TJD’s big play in Warriors win sparked by pregame Kerr challenge originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Although Trayce Jackson-Davis very strong start for the Warriors this season, coach Steve Kerr had a challenge for the young center before Wednesday. 104-89 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in Chase Center.
“He told me he wants me to play with power, run the floor hard, so that was my big emphasis today,” Jackson-Davis said. “I went early and kept trying to do everything I could to help the team.”
TJD did a lot for Golden State, scoring 15 points to go with nine rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in the Warriors’ second straight win in as many nights against the Pelicans.
A second-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jackson-Davis is appearing as a sweet complement to Kerr’s offense.
The Warriors were 3-point heavy with an emphasis on spacing, something that has been somewhat compromised as Stephen Curry rests his sore ankle. Jackson-Davis doing work down low and in the paint helped bring some balance.
“He’s obviously a great finisher because of his athleticism, his length,” Kerr said. “Our guys do a good job of finding him as he rolls to the basket. Most of those shots come close to the ring, obviously. That’s why he has such a percentage. But that’s what we need. We spread the floor, we shoot a lot of 3s. It’s a big help to be able to get points in as well.”
Jackson-Davis didn’t miss a shot in three of the Warriors’ first four games this season and came close to perfect again against the Pelicans before finishing 7 of 9 from the floor.
Through five games Jackson-Davis is knocking down shots at a 77.8 percent clip, second in the NBA to Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen (79.1 percent).
All of that, Jackson-Davis said, is a result of the time he put in between the 2023-24 season and this one. That experience allowed him to sharpen his own game while getting a better feel for what his teammates like.
“We got reps this summer, just making the right plays, making the right reads,” Jackson-Davis said. “Last year coming in, (I had to) learn guys’ tendencies, what they like to do on the court. Now being my second year, being able to apply those things and knowing what guys like to do, getting the ball on the short roll if I need to score or pass out or something like that … it’s the reps along with just reading the game. , watching a movie.”
Jackson-Davis gave the Warriors a spark early, scoring their first four points on an alley-oop pass from Brandin Podziemski then spinning past New Orleans center Daniel Theis down the baseline for a two-handed jam.
The BP-TJD connection is made to be good Three of Jackson-Davis’ buckets came off passes from his fellow 2023 draft pick, while both of TJD’s assists were feeds to Podziemski.
“We kind of know what trends we like on the floor,” Jackson-Davis said. “He’s always looking for me. He made some great strides. He has to continue to do that because it really helps our team.”
The same can be said for TJD.
