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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Al Jefferson

By Tony East

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: Al Jefferson #25 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: Al Jefferson #25 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on March 17, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Al Jefferson Indiana Pacers
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 15: Al Jefferson #25 of the Indiana Pacers tangles with Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz in the second half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 15, 2018, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Indiana Pacers won 109-94. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

The Good

Al Jefferson can do something that basically nobody else in the league can do anymore, and that is dominating in the post on offense. The best part is that he knows that nobody can stop him on the block: “I think my playstyle has faded out, but I think coach does a great job of running plays for me and getting me the ball. If I’m in the game and if you don’t put me on the block, there’s no point of putting me in the game. Guys don’t know how to defend it.” Jefferson told me back in February.

You see it almost every time Al Jefferson enters a game. Some poor sucker thinks he can handle big Al in the paint, but professor Jefferson takes them to office hours and scores some easy points. It’s the hallmark of how he stays effective.

Poor Khem Birch failed this exam. He had rarely seen anything like this post move before in his career. Jefferson initiated contact and figured out which way Birch was leaning. Once he discovered he was bent, Jefferson spun the other way and put him in a blender:

And we all remember the move he put on Joel Embiid a few months ago. Embiid may be a talented young player, but he can’t even hang with Jefferson’s post moves:

Look at those crisp moves! Jefferson consistently dominates down low, and it allows him to be able to stay on the floor in his old age.

Another skill big Al excels at is rebounding. He pulled down 10.6 rebounds per 36 minutes, the second-best figure of any player in the Pacers rotation. His 26.2 percent defensive rebound rate was the best on the team, displaying his talents boxing out his opponents and preventing the other team from gaining any extra possessions.

But perhaps Jefferson’s biggest and most useful attribute is his presence in the locker room. He was always smiling, and his attitude was infectious. He taught the young bigs how to dominate their opponents and how to get by in today’s NBA. Jefferson always stood up and cheered on the bench when the Pacers scored. He was a perfect presence on a team that had such great chemistry.

President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard agreed, and he rambled about how great Jefferson was to the locker room during his end of season presser. There is no stat for being a good veteran, but if there was, Al would lead the team in it.

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