After re-signing him in the offseason and naming him the starting center on opening night, there was real excitement for what Isaiah Jackson could do this season for the Indiana Pacers. However, things haven't gone as well as anybody had hoped for, and it's looking like the Michigan native is just another player on the roster at this point.
Since returning from a concussion on Jan. 17, Jackson has averaged 2.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1 turnover in 9 minutes across six games. Jackson has logged single-digit minutes in six of his 35 games this season, and all but two of them have been in January (this also includes the Dec. 22 game against the Boston Celtics, the game he had to leave early due to a head injury).
Jackson is a fine player, but he's likely never going to be the player the Pacers were hoping he would become this season. While he should have more opportunities to prove his worth this season (assuming he doesn't get traded), it's looking like the Kentucky alum is going to continue being a backup at best during his time with the Pacers.
Isaiah Jackson is what he is for the Pacers
There were reasons to be skeptical of Indiana's decision to put so much trust in Jackson this season. He was fresh off an Achilles tear, had started 31 games in his first four seasons in the league, and has a completely different skillset from Myles Turner, who he was looking to help replace.
Still, the Pacers bet on their guy, and it's hard to fault them for that. Jackson is incredibly athletic, has a high motor, and has long been a solid backup for them. The thing is, though, that's likely all he's ever going to be.
The 24-year-old is a good player, but he's not irreplaceable. And he certainly isn't someone Indiana can trust to start at center once it looks to re-enter the title picture.
What is truly going against Jackson, however, is the emergence of Jay Huff. The Pacers traded for Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason, and he has mostly been good for them this year. Like Jackson, Huff probably isn't a dependable long-term starter for them, but there are more reasons to believe he can contribute at a high level. And given that Jackson is on a three-year, $21 million contract, it might be tough to justify keeping him around as a third-string center.
All in all, Jackson is a very talented player, but he may have already peaked with the Pacers. He has shown exactly what he is, and it just might not be good enough.