Why Jaren Jackson Jr. at center is a problem for Team USA
Following Team USA’s shocking 110-104 loss to undefeated Lithuania (5-0) on Sunday, it’s time for the team to look itself in the mirror.
The crux of the issue: The American team is too small for global competition.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is not the answer at the center, as evidenced against Lithuania, when the 6-foot-10, 242-pound Memphis Grizzlies standout pulled down only one rebound in 15 minutes. Bobby Portis, a 6-foot-11 power foward for the Milwaukee Bucks, was the only American to grab more than four rebounds (five).
In contrast, Lithuania dominated the glass with seven-footer Jonas Valančiūnas (New Orleans Pelicans) and 6-foot-9 Tadas Sedekerskis, who together combined for 18 rebounds.
Jackson isn’t a center. He’s a forward, particularly on the global stage. In his NBA career, Jackson has never averaged more than seven boards per game, with 6.8 being his career high. His career average is 5.5. That deficiency is significantly magnified in international competition.
Unlike the NBA’s penchant for “small ball,” international teams often opt for height and size. More times than not, the world plays big. If given a choice, most countries prioritize playing their biggest and tallest players.
Compounding the rebounding issue, Jackson frequently finds himself in foul trouble. He has averaged 3.5 or more fouls each season of his professional career.
“[Jackson] has the ability to block everything. Sometimes he needs to dial it back. He’s foul-prone in the NBA. You just want him to let it go, because he’s too important to us,” head coach Steve Kerr said last week about Jackson’s defensive abilities, per Yahoo’s Jake Fischer.
If Jackson starts at center for the Americans at the 2024 Paris Olympics, it poses a significant risk. Such a strategy could easily jeopardize the U.S.’s aspiration to claim gold.
Some other, more viable options include Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Jarret Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers).
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