Former Lone Peak star Frank Jackson continuing to get established for New Orleans Pelicans

SALT LAKE CITY — By now, former Lone Peak High School star Frank Jackson has played enough times at Vivint Arena as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans that it would be reasonable if he didn’t get too excited about returning to Utah for a game against the Jazz.

But prior to the two sides squaring off on Saturday, the third-year guard expressed that it was good to be home.

“It’s always fun,” he said. “I’ve done it for the last couple years, but it’s always fun to see family, friends and people you’re familiar with. This is home for me. This is where I grew up, so it’s always fun to come back and play in front of family and friends.”

A McDonald’s All-American in 2016 before getting drafted in 2017 after a season at Duke, Jackson said it’s still “surreal” to play in a building where he watched games as a kid.

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“Just to come back here, it’s an honor, honestly, to come back and play in this arena,” he said.

While the 21-year-old Jackson was drafted in 2017, he was sidelined for his entire first season, meaning that he has grown used to life in the NBA at this point but still has plenty of developing to do as a player. 

That said, he entered Saturday’s game averaging 9.6 points in 17.4 minutes per contest mostly off the bench (he’s made one start) on the new-look Pelicans roster that features a bunch of guards, including Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, JJ Redick, Josh Hart, E’Twaun Moore and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

“I just think my confidence grows every single game, regardless of outcome and whatnot,” Jackson said. “I just think being out there and really getting in a flow with our new teammates and finding a rhythm, I just feel like I’m a lot more confident. I feel good out there.”

Holiday, whom Jackson has spent a bunch of time with during the last two offseasons, and New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry both noted that Jackson has been playing very well defensively and competing hard in general.

“I think people have to realize that he’s still in the learning process,” Gentry said. “He had a real good training camp. He’s consistently developing a knowledge of the NBA game … it’s a situation where the only experience you can have is the experience of actually playing games.”

Added Holiday: “He’s been playing well. You can tell he’s more comfortable out there, more of himself. He brings something to the table every single night, and he does a great job of doing it.”

Jackson said he feels that’s what will be his continual ticket to playing time as the season goes on.

“That’s what I can control and that’s what I know how to do,” he said, “is just play hard.”

On Saturday night, Jackson was largely ineffective, as he missed all six of his shot attempts and finished with just two points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.