Trayce Jackson-Davis Posts Double-Double, Starts First Preseason Game For Warriors

Following an All-American career at Indiana, Trayce Jackson-Davis is working to establish himself in the NBA. He made his first-career start Wednesday in the Golden State Warriors' preseason game, and scored 13 points with 10 rebounds.

Trayce Jackson-Davis started all 126 games he played at Indiana, and he got his first-career NBA start Wednesday in a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. 

With starting center Kevon Looney not feeling well, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr called Jackson-Davis' number, and he took advantage.

In 25 minutes of action, Jackson-Davis posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. It wasn't his most efficient night, shooting 6-for-14 from the field, 1-for-2 from the free throw line and picking up five fouls, but it's a performance to build off of. 

"The biggest lesson I take is just enjoy the process," Jackson-Davis said. "I found out this morning that I was going to start, so just always being ready to have your name called and just playing with my teammates, the vets. Shoutout to Rudy, Draymond, CP3, Steph just helping me, even in shoot around earlier today, being in the right spots, knowing what to do out on the floor. Just got to keep stacking and building off those moments."

The Warriors remained undefeated in preseason play, thanks to a vintage Steph Curry 3-pointer in the final seconds to claim a 116-115 win over the Kings.

Here are some highlights from Jackson-Davis' performance.

Jackson-Davis has been especially useful for the Warriors as a lob threat, something Kerr highlighted as an area of need before the season. He connected with Klay Thompson on an alley-oop Wednesday night.

"Just trying to screen and get him open, and then obviously Steph, Klay, CP3, they all draw help and just always be ready to jump and go and get it," Jackson-Davis said. "He kind of threw it up, and I didn't know if he was going to bounce pass or, then he just threw it at the rim, then just finishing through contact."

Jackson-Davis went up against a three-time NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis Wednesday night and held his own, as Sabonis finished with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

"It was fun," Jackson-Davis said. "Being able to go against a talent like that on this stage at home, getting my first start, just soaking it all in, playing with the teammates that I have, it was a great experience. Credit to Sabonis, he's a great player, he's an all-star, but just being out there competing."

Jackson-Davis has played four NBA preseason games so far, and Wednesday's effort was his biggest chance yet. The Warriors have veteran forwards Looney, Draymond Green and Dario Saric, so Jackson-Davis will truly have to earn his minutes as a rookie on a championship contender.

Playing around these experienced players has been valuable for the rookie.

"[Draymond Green] has been great," Jackson-Davis said. "Tonight he gave me a lot of pointers before the game on how to guard Sabonis and what he does really well and what works against him. So I thought I did that in the first half pretty well, and the second half kind of got a little tired, lethargic, and did some things that he didn't tell me. But at the end of the day, he's been great for me and helping me through this transition." 

The Warriors have one more preseason game at 10 p.m. ET Friday against the San Antonio Spurs, before beginning the regular season at 10 p.m. ET on Oct. 24 against the Phoenix Suns.

Here's the full postgame press conference with Jackson-Davis.

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