UNC Basketball Alumni: Justin Jackson returns to Dallas
By Zack Pearson
A former UNC Basketball standout is heading back to a familiar place to continue on his NBA career.
After winning a title with the Milwaukee Bucks a year ago, forward Justin Jackson will have a new team in 2021-22. And he’s returning to the Dallas Mavericks. The team announced the signing of Jackson along with E.J. Onu on Friday night, welcoming the two newest signings to the team. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.
For Jackson, he returns to Dallas where he played 29 games in 2018-19 and then 65 in 2019-2020 after being traded from Sacramento in a deal that involved Harrison Barnes. Jackson was then traded to Oklahoma City in November of 2020 before signing with the Bucks in April of 2021.
Haven't quite figured out what this means yet, but the Mavericks are signing E.J. Onu and Justin Jackson. Jackson has been around the NBA in his first few seasons, including a stop in Dallas. He did win a ring last season with the Bucks.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) October 16, 2021
The 26-year-old Jackson has averaged 6.6. points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 248 games played in his career. That came after Jackson spent three seasons with North Carolina including winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year award in 2017 while leading the Tar Heels to the national championship over Gonzaga.
Jackson will also be reunited with former UNC standout Reggie Bullock who signed with Dallas this offseason.
It’s unknown what type of role Jackson will have moving forward with the regular season starting next week. But at least he has the chance to earn a full roster spot and some more playing time moving forward this season.
Next. Former Tar Heel lands new gig. dark
For more on Jackson and other former UNC Basketball players in the NBA, please check back with Keeping It Heel.