The Indiana Pacers are exercising Isaiah Jackson’s $2,696,280 team option for the 2023-24 season. This is part of the four-year, $12.16 million rookie scale contract he signed with the team last August.
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan had until Oct. 31 to make a decision on the forward’s 2023-24 club option. Jackson has another team option for the 2024-25 season worth $4,435,381.
The 2024-25 squad selection deadline is this time next year. For the 2022-23 season, Jackson will earn $2,573,760. Of course, the front office has high hopes for the 20-year-old.
According to several NBA betting sites, the Pacers have the sixth-lowest odds to win the championship in 2023. Still, punters are hoping the Eastern Conference team will at least make the playoffs this season.
Jackson was selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, the Kentucky product was dealt to the Packers. Days after the trade, he signed a multiyear contract with Indiana.
In his rookie 2021-22 season, in 36 games, Jackson averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He closed his first season with a total of three doubles.
In the year On January 31, 2022, the wing scored a game-high 26 points in 30 minutes of action in the Pacers’ 122-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He finished 12-of-19 (63.2%) shooting from the field.
Then on March 13, in Indiana’s 131-128 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Jackson finished with a career-best 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Pacers practice 2023-24 club option on Isaiah Jackson
Additionally, in 25 games against Kentucky in the NCAA, the forward averaged 8.4 points, 6.6 boards and 2.6 blocks in his first season. In addition, he shot 54% from the floor.
Jackson finished 12th in the SEC in total tackles (165), second in blocks (65), and fourth in passer rating (25.3). Not to mention, he led the conference in blocks per game (2.6), total rebound percentage (17.3%), and block percentage (12.7%).
In Kentucky’s 65-63 loss to Kansas in the Championship Classic on December 1, 2020, the forward finished his outing with 7 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high 8 blocks in 30 minutes played.
In the year He has the most single-game blocks since Willie Cauley-Stein in 2013.
Isaiah Jackson dunks in his first NBA start.
26 PTS | 10 REB | 2 BLK@IJackson22 x #Golden blood pic.twitter.com/hbLptHeVuE
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 2, 2022
In the year He shot 5-of-8 (62.5%) from the field.
At the end of the season, he was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team.
While in high school, Jackson was ranked 26th overall on the RSCI Top 100 list.
If he stays healthy with the Pacers, the forward could earn All-NBA honors in the 2022-23 season. As a first-round pick, Isaiah Jackson should post better numbers in his second season.
