Even when the Indiana Pacers re-signed him in the offseason, many fans believed that Quenton Jackson was too good to be on a two-way contract. Now, it seems like a no-brainer for the Pacers to convert his contract to a standard one, especially given their uncertainties at the point guard position.
The California native missed the Pacers' first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury. However, he has immediately taken on a starting role due to injuries to Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell. And he has thrived so far.
In Jackson's first two games as a starter this season, he averaged 20 points on 58.3% shooting from the field and 62.5% shooting from deep. Additionally, he averaged 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and just 1.5 turnovers in 26.5 minutes. This included a fantastic 25-point, 10-assist performance against the Golden State Warriors, which helped Indiana win its first game of the season.
Is this sustainable for Jackson? Unless he's the NBA's great point guard, no. But has he solidified himself as a legitimate contributor in Indiana? Absolutely.
Once the Pacers get all their guards back, Jackson will once again be reduced to a backup role. Only problem is the Pacers have no idea when they will actually get all their guards back. And even when it happens, there is no telling how they will each perform immediately.
The Texas A&M alum has been a solid player in Indiana's organization for some time. Now, it's up to the Pacers to give him the reward he deserves and sign him to a standard contract.
Quenton Jackson's emergence is no fluke
There is a lot to like about Jackson's game, particularly in the Pacers' system.
He is incredibly athletic and energetic, and as he's shown, he can be trusted with the ball in his hands. Furthermore, he plays hard, contributes on both sides of the ball, and can also be very efficient as a scorer (it's a pretty small sample size, but he is shooting a career 48.5% from the field in parts of four seasons) and as a passer.
Perhaps more importantly, though, he has stepped up multiple times for the Pacers in the past, indicating that he is, in fact, ready to take on a bigger role.
In the Pacers' final two games of the 2024-25 season, Jackson averaged 17 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals in 30 minutes while shooting 43.5% from the floor.
Yes, those games were against two playoff-bound Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers teams who rested their starters, but it's still an encouraging signal that Jackson showed out and made the most out of these opportunities. It's even more impressive considering that he came off the bench in both games.
Jackson is likely never going to be an All-Star, but his talent and fit in Indiana are undeniable. At 27 years old, his age is a bit of a concern as he doesn't have too high of a ceiling. But even so, he has made it clear that he deserves a role with the team, especially this season.
The season is still young, and Jackson will almost certainly come back down to earth at some point soon. But until then, the Pacers will continue to rely on him to contribute at a high level, and in turn, they need to reward him sooner rather than later.