Former UNC basketball star inks 10-day contract with Timberwolves

Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday afternoon that former UNC basketball star Justin Jackson had agreed to a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jackson was a major part of the 2017 National Championship squad in Chapel Hill and will now look to make an impact in a new role.

Jackson has bounced around the NBA since joining the league in 2017. He has played for the Kings, Mavericks, Thunder, Celtics, Suns, and Bucks, who won the NBA title in 2021. The Timberwolves will be his seventh team in his seventh season, so it is safe to say it is a little difficult for him to get comfortable.

So far in his time as a professional, Justin Jackson has not been given many minutes, With the Bucks, he averaged 33 minutes a game but for his career, he averages a little over 17 minutes a game played. When he is on the floor, he averages 6.0 points per game.

However, Jackson is coming from the G-League, where he is averaging right at 20 points per game. His game is trending up, and the Timberwolves felt they had a roster spot for him.

Jackson will now be joining the first place team in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves are sitting at 39-16 heading into the second half of the season. With them being on so much of a role, there is the unfortunate likelihood that Jackson will not see much playing time in his new home either.

However, if Jackson is on the floor with superstars Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns, he could have prime scoring opportunities to prove he deserves more than a 10-day contract. Obviously, the NBA is another level than college, but Jackson proved he can score in high-level competitions at North Carolina.

Over three seasons in Chapel Hill, Jackson averaged 13.8 points to go along with 4.1 rebounds while shooting 34% from behind the arch and 71% from the foul line. His outstanding junior season that led North Carolina to a National title made him a first-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

Hopefully, this opportunity to prove himself in 10 days will allow Jackson to show his worth to his new organization and will result in a more consistent role where he can grow and be the best he can be.