Southwest Notes: Jackson, Flagg, Queen, More

GG Jackson II has had an up-and-down start to his Grizzlies career. After playing over 1200 minutes his rookie year for a Memphis team ravaged by injuries, a broken foot, and a healthy squad limited him to less than 500 minutes his sophomore season.

Now, with a new head coach in Tuomas Iisalo, Jackson is looking to settle into a role, and Iisalo is looking to help him do exactly that, Damichael Cole writes for Commercial Appeal.

“He told me last year when I was stuck in my head a lot that I’m (going to) coach you the hardest because I don’t want to be that guy that looks back in 20 years like, ‘Ah, that GG Jackson kid could have been something,'” Jackson said about his new coach. “He lets me know that he’s not going to let me fall, so that’s why I rock with him so much.”

Iisalo has emphasized Jackson attacking the basket more aggressively, rather than settling for jumpers, and so far it’s worked. Jackson has averaged 21 points through three Summer League games as he vies for one of the remaining spots in the Grizzlies’ starting lineup.

We have more from around the Southwest division:

• Cooper Flagg scored 10 points on 21 shots in his Mavericks debut. “That might be one of the worst games of my life,” he said, per The Athletic’s Christian Clark (via Twitter). “But we got the win. So that’s what really matters to me.” According to ESPN’s insider crew, Flagg’s game showed his value even when the shot wasn’t falling, as his size and athleticism shone through, especially on the fast break, and his all-around game on both sides of the floor makes him look like a potential game-changer when paired with Dallas’ veterans. While he didn’t score in the second half, he was able to contribute six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block to the final box score.
• Derik Queen made his Pelicans debut on Thursday. According to Rod Walker of NOLA.com, there’s a lot for him to take away from the experience, both good and bad. Queen ended the game with seven turnovers after a particularly rough first half, but he also ended up with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Those numbers don’t satisfy Queen, though, who knows there are a lot of eyes on him after the Pelicans traded an unprotected 2026 pick to draft him. “Twitter and Instagram are probably going crazy right now,” he said. “I have to redeem myself for me and all the outside noise.” Despite the self-effacing comment, Queen was ultimately encouraged by his play. “I think I flipped the switch in the second half. I feel like I got the hang of it now,” he said.
• Pelicans 2025 lottery pick Jeremiah Fears and last year’s rookie Yves Missi had similarly hit-and-miss debuts, Walker writes. Fears ended the game with 14 points, with just two assists to seven turnovers. Missi shot 5-14 from the field and 3-9 from the free throw line, but ended with a strong 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. “[Missi] looks like he’s stronger,” said Summer League head coach Corey Brewer. “I think we are going to see a different Yves this year.”
• Nate Williams‘ contract with the Rockets doesn’t become guaranteed until opening night, but he’s not letting that bother him as he heads into his fourth Summer League, writes Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. “I really don’t worry about all that stuff,” Williams said. “I just work hard and come to play and have fun.” Rockets’ Summer League coach Garrett Jackson said that he’s going to lean on Williams, as well as Reed Sheppard, throughout the team’s time in Las Vegas. As for Williams, he’s focused on controlling what he can control. “We gonna put on a show tomorrow,” Williams said. “We just gonna show everything: gonna shoot, gonna get to the basket, gonna make the right plays. Just have fun.”