The Philadelphia 76ers have found a new life since Joel Embiid’s return from injury. They won their 4th straight game tonight after blowing out the Memphis Grizzlies 116-96. Joel Embiid and Co. dominated them from the get-go, but one incident briefly halted their momentum. A malfunction on the Grizzlies’ home court caused a delay in the game during the second quarter. However, 76ers star Buddy Hield and Grizzlies rookie GG Jackson II’s unexpected teamwork helped speed up the fixing process and cut short the negative spotlight on the NBA!
After Joel Embiid hit a smooth jumper in the opening minutes of the second quarter, the officials abruptly stopped the play due to an issue on the court. The referees noticed that a part of the court was separated from its place, leaving a sizable gap. That could have led to a player getting injured during the game. While the officials tried to fix the issue, Buddy Hield stepped in to close the gap by jumping on the separated piece to slide it forward. Watching Hield do it alone, GG Jackson II joined in and jumped in sync.
The unlikely duo surprisingly succeeded in their endeavor and let the staff do the rest. The game resumed shortly after. Notably, there’ve been similar incidents this season that have caused lengthy delays during exciting matches.
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Buddy and GG teaming up to fix the court lol https://t.co/KbNv0mh0MS pic.twitter.com/Lrfhkgm8fX
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 7, 2024
During last month’s rivalry game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, a shot-clock malfunction caused a nearly half-hour delay. The final two minutes of the game took 23 minutes and 27 seconds to complete.
"I'm too old for this s—."
—LeBron after the stoppages in the final minutes of Warriors-Lakers 😂 pic.twitter.com/PSc9Z564nn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 17, 2024
Even LeBron James chimed in on the incident during the game, saying, “I’m too old for this sh*t!”. Coming back to today’s halt during the game, this wasn’t the first time the NBA world got a glimpse of GG Jackson’s personality.
GG Jackson’s wholesome nature shines again amid adversity
Although the Memphis Grizzlies have had an abysmal season this year, they might have found a future star in GG Jackson II. The 19-year-old rookie is the youngest active player in the NBA. But he has already made a name for himself because of his on-court performances and wholesome personality. Jackson came into the limelight after he scored 23 points in January’s win against the Warriors. But it was his reaction to hearing Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal’s voice during the post-game interview that made him a household name. A star-struck Jackson told Shaq, “Sir, it’s an honor to get to hear your voice. Appreciate you.”
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Jackson has had a hell of a rookie season in Memphis. He is averaging 13.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. The rookie’s brilliant performance this season has already helped him earn several superstars’ respect. After Jackson faced the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo had high praise for him, “Very good player, man. Very good player. Not scared. Not scared of the big moment. Made tough shots. Can move his feet. Very long player. He has a bright future in this league. He’s an extremely good player.”
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Even tonight, Jackson had a decent outing with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. And his teamwork with Buddy Hield proved he is also a great person off the court. When Ja Morant returns from injury next season, he could become a key player in the Grizzlies’ future success.
Read More: 2 Months Younger Than Bronny James, Grizzlies Starlet’s Hype Sends Fans Into a Frenzy Online