Warriors rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis entered the league with a chip on his shoulder as the No. 57 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
But it didn't take long for his new teammates Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to realize that the 23-year-old could perform far beyond his chosen spot – which Jackson-Davis did in Golden State's 129-118 victory over the Washington once again proved its worth to the Wizards on Friday night at the Chase Center.
“You tend to think about what [Jackson-Davis’] Strengths could be in the league and he's showing them now,” Curry told reporters after the game, reflecting on his thoughts in June when the Warriors swept Jackson-Davis in the second round. “Athletic…These guys who played three, four years in college, they have a maturity level…
“There are stories that an experienced college player can give you something, but you never really know how it will turn out. It's just about the strength of what he's done for us and the way he impacts the game.” was the hope it will look like that.
“And that’s why I’m glad he’s proving that pretty early on.”
Curry said he was already familiar with the Indiana product's game when the Warriors drafted Jackson-Davis. Golden State had secured the 57th pick in the Jordan Poole-Chris Paul trade by sending Patrick Baldwin Jr. and some money to the Wizards in exchange for the selection, which they immediately used to draft Jackson-Davis.
And so far, Curry's hopes for Jackson-Davis are coming true. The rookie has worked his way into coach Steve Kerr's rotation and has size and athleticism that will give the Warriors a new dimension on both ends of the court. Jackson-Davis was crucial to Golden State's success, recording his second straight double-double on Friday with 10 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and a block, a plus-10 over 25 minutes.
Even in training camp, Thompson knew the Warriors had a good choice.
“I just looked up his college resume and he was incredibly impressive,” Thompson said of his immediate thoughts on Jackson-Davis after the draft. “I mean, he averaged 20-10, was the player of the year in his conference or at least an All-American. Any time you have a player like that who is willing to contribute, it's great. …
“I knew he could be a force in this league.”
Jackson-Davis was surprised when he fell to No. 57 in the draft, he said after Friday's game, but he's happy with the way things worked out as he joins several future Hall of Famers has made a name for himself and can think about several championships.
“I’m happy to be here and lucky to get to play with these guys,” Jackson-Davis told reporters.
And it's clear that Curry, Thompson and the rest of the Golden State veterans also believe the franchise's future is bright.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast