After Memphis Grizzlies’ GG Jackson scored 23 points in a victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, the 19-year-old rookie couldn’t hide his excitement during a postgame interview with NBA on TNT.
An especially sweet moment occurred when Jackson, the youngest player in the NBA, heard basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal’s voice congratulating him on the broadcast. O’Neal praised Jackson’s performance and expressed pride in his achievements.
The Grizzlies rookie’s face immediately lit up with surprise and emotion upon hearing O’Neal’s voice. Jackson responded by expressing his honor at hearing from the basketball legend.
After the sweet interaction, O’Neal’s TNT co-host Charles Barkley jokingly remarked that Jackson “could tell it was Shaq because he was mumbling,” eliciting a chuckle from the player.
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Jackson’s stellar performance against Golden State’s star-studded roster of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green came during his fourth game in the league. Two days prior, he scored 20 points in a loss to the New York Knicks, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the three youngest players in NBA history to score 20+ points in consecutive games.
Drafted by Memphis, Jackson was the South Carolina Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and a two-time state champion with Ridge View High School. Next, the Grizzlies will travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.
