The Pistons saw the same explosive off-the-bench scoring in Frank Jackson this season that prompted them to sign him to a two-year contract last summer after picking up him off of waivers prior to the 2021-21 season. They just didn’t see it as often – a byproduct of the frequent interruptions to Jackson’s season.
Jackson missed 13 games with an ankle injury in January, returned for three weeks, then was sidelined for 16 of 17 games with a back injury – with a stint in NBA heath and safety protocols wedged in there, as well.
“I’d never been hurt that long during the season,” Jackson said. “That was kind of a challenge, physically and mentally, to push through. A lot of growth in me for year five. I’m excited to keep pushing and keep getting better.”
Here's a look at Jackson’s past, present and future:
PROFILE: 6-foot-3 guard, 23 years old, 4 NBA seasons
2021-22 STATS: 10.6 points in 22 minutes a game, shot .308 from the 3-point line
STATUS: The Pistons hold a team option on the second year of the two-year contract Jackson signed last summer as a restricted free agent
DID YOU KNOW?: At the McDonald’s All-American game in 2016, Jackson won the Slam Dunk contest over two 2017 lottery picks, future Pistons teammate Josh Jackson and Malik Monk. Both Jacksons scored 19 points in the game to lead the West to a 114-107 win. Winning the dunk competition was in line with Jackson’s phenomenal testing numbers at the 2017 NBA draft combine where his speed and vertical jump were at or near the top by every measure.
A LOOK BACK: Jackson went from relative obscurity to a marquee recruit in the summer after his junior year of high school in Utah, not usually a hotbed for powerhouse college basketball programs. Committed to nearby Brigham Young until that point, Jackson switched his commitment to Duke to join what became the No. 1 recruiting class and included Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles, the latter considered the nation’s top recruit before suffering multiple knee injuries. Jackson became a part-time starter and key contributor as a freshman, averaging 10.9 points in 25 minutes a game for a team that went 28-9 and was led in scoring by sophomore Luke Kennard. Jackson declared for the NBA draft and was the first pick in round two, going to New Orleans, but he missed all of the 2017-18 season with a foot injury. Jackson spent two seasons with the Pelicans and averaged 19 minutes a game as a rookie – the season dominated by Anthony Davis forcing his way out of New Orleans – and showing promise as a 20-year-old. Jackson’s three-year contract expired after his second season and he landed a non-guaranteed deal with Oklahoma City, not surviving the final cutdown. He was picked up by the Pistons on a two-way contract and blossomed over the final two months of the season when the NBA relaxed rules on maximum usage for two-way players amid the COVID-19 pandemic, shooting a career-best .407 from the 3-point arc and providing consistent off-the-bench scoring. In 40 games, Jackson averaged 9.8 points in 18.5 minutes a game.
THE SEASON THAT WAS: After agreeing to a two-year contract to resolve his restricted free agency, Jackson entered training camp in a three-way battle with Hamidou Diallo and Josh Jackson for the two wing spots on the second unit. He won that battle and moved into the starting lineup on opening night when Cade Cunningham remained out with an ankle injury. Along with the rest of the team, Jackson slumped from the 3-point arc to open the season but otherwise continued to spread his wings as a spark plug and an increasingly effective off-the-dribble scorer. He hit his stride, averaging 12.3 points and shooting .375 from the 3-point arc in 12 December games, but suffered a severely sprained ankle in a Dec. 29 loss to New York and missed 13 games when his rehabilitation was extended by a stint in NBA health and safety protocols. Jackson played 10 games and then suffered a back injury that cost him 16 of the next 17 games. He returned for the final two weeks, enough time to score 26 points in a Pistons win at Oklahoma City – the team that waived him coming out of training camp in December 2020.
A LOOK AHEAD: The Pistons will have a decision to make on Jackson with a team option on his contract for 2022-23. But given the reported terms of the deal at $3.1 million, it seems a good bet that Jackson will be back in his customary role. He’ll be 24 for all of the 2022-23 season, right in the sweet spot on a young roster, and Jackson’s intelligence, temperament and athleticism are all pluses for a player who still has room to expand his game. Dwane Casey has made no secret of his admiration for Jackson’s tenacity and willingness to be a combative defender. Without the disruption caused by injuries to undermine his 2021-22 season, a Jackson that can get back to 40 percent 3-point shooting will be a valuable part of the second unit in 2022-23.
MONEY QUOTE: “Great kid. Great young man. I told his parents, they did a great job. Great with the fans, great with his teammates. And he’s consistent. He’s not one of those up-and-down personalities. He’s consistent in his approach and he’s a pro. I enjoy coaching Frank. He’s a special young man.” – Dwane Casey when Jackson returned from his ankle injury in late January