1. Overview
Jarrett Matthew Jack, born on October 28, 1983, in Fort Washington, Maryland, is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jack had an extensive playing career in the NBA, appearing for nine different teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, and New York Knicks. He also played in the NBA G League before transitioning into coaching.
2. Early life and education
Jarrett Jack's formative years involved a dynamic educational path across multiple states, where he honed his basketball skills before embarking on his professional career.
2.1. High school years
Jack attended four different high schools, which included DeMatha Catholic High School and St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Maryland, Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina, and Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. By 2002, he was recognized as a four-star recruit by Scout.com and was ranked as the No. 9 point guard and the No. 40 overall player in the nation.
2.2. College career
After completing his high school education, Jack enrolled at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he continued his basketball career. During his sophomore year in the 2003-04 season, he played a crucial role in leading Georgia Tech to the NCAA Finals, averaging 12.5 points and 5.1 assists per game. In his junior and final year at Georgia Tech, he improved his averages to 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Although he decided to forgo his senior year to enter the NBA draft, Jack eventually completed his degree in business management, graduating from Georgia Tech on December 13, 2014, at commencement ceremonies in Atlanta.
3. Professional playing career
Jarrett Jack's professional playing career spanned over a decade, seeing him contribute to numerous teams across the NBA and its developmental league, the NBA G League.
3.1. National Basketball Association (NBA)
Jack's NBA journey began with his draft selection in 2005, leading to a career marked by trades, significant roles, and notable individual performances with various franchises.
3.1.1. Portland Trail Blazers (2005-2008)
Jack declared for the 2005 NBA draft after his junior year at Georgia Tech and was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 22nd overall pick. However, on draft night, he was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for their 27th pick, Linas Kleiza, and 35th pick, Ricky Sánchez. In his rookie season (2005-06), Jack served as a backup point guard to Steve Blake and Sebastian Telfair, receiving limited playing time. In the 2006 off-season, Blake was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and Telfair to the Boston Celtics. In their absence, coach Nate McMillan named Jack the starting point guard for the 2006-07 season, which led to a dramatic increase in his minutes and statistical output. However, with Blake's return to the team in the 2007-08 season, Jack's role shifted, and he was once again primarily utilized as a sixth man.
3.1.2. Indiana Pacers (2008-2009)
On July 9, 2008, Jarrett Jack was traded to the Indiana Pacers as part of a deal that also sent Josh McRoberts and 2008 NBA draft pick Brandon Rush to Indiana, in exchange for Ike Diogu and Jerryd Bayless. During the 2008-09 season, Jack played in all 82 regular season games, averaging 33.1 minutes per game, and contributed an average of 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. As a restricted free agent after the season, Jack received an offer sheet from the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers opted not to match the offer, facilitating his move to Toronto.
3.1.3. Toronto Raptors (2009-2010)
On July 13, 2009, Jack signed a 4-year, 20.00 M USD offer sheet with the Toronto Raptors. The Indiana Pacers had seven days to match the offer but ultimately decided not to, allowing Jack to officially join the Raptors.
3.1.4. New Orleans Hornets (2010-2012)
On November 20, 2010, Jarrett Jack was involved in another trade, moving to the New Orleans Hornets along with Marcus Banks and David Andersen. In return, the Raptors received Peja Stojaković (who later moved to the Dallas Mavericks) and Jerryd Bayless.
3.1.5. Golden State Warriors (2012-2013)
On July 11, 2012, Jack was traded to the Golden State Warriors in a complex three-team deal. In this trade, the Philadelphia 76ers received Dorell Wright from Golden State, while the Hornets acquired the draft rights to Edin Bavčić. His season with the Warriors was particularly impactful; on February 22, 2013, Jack recorded a double-double with 30 points and 10 assists in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. This performance made him the first bench player to achieve such numbers since Magic Johnson in 1996. At the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, Jack's strong play off the bench earned him a third-place finish in the voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. For the season, he played in 79 games, starting 4 of them, and averaged 29.8 minutes per game, along with 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.
3.1.6. Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-2014)
On July 12, 2013, Jarrett Jack signed a 4-year contract worth 25.00 M USD with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his single season with the Cavaliers (2013-14), he appeared in 80 games, starting 31, and averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. On April 15, 2014, Jack was honored with the ninth annual Austin Carr Good Guy Award, an accolade named after Cavaliers legend Austin Carr that recognizes a player for their cooperation and understanding with the media.
3.1.7. Brooklyn Nets (2014-2016)
On July 10, 2014, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Jack to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team deal that also involved the Boston Celtics. This trade was primarily orchestrated by the Cavaliers to create salary cap space necessary to re-sign LeBron James. Notably, this was the second trade involving Jack where the team trading him away received the draft rights to Edin Bavčić in return. On December 13, 2014, hours after graduating from Georgia Tech, Jack traveled to Charlotte to join his teammates for their game against the Charlotte Hornets, contributing 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench to help the Nets secure a 114-87 victory.
On November 14, 2015, Jack scored a season-high 28 points in an overtime loss to his former team, the Golden State Warriors. However, on January 3, 2016, his season was prematurely ended when he was ruled out for the remainder of the year after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a small medial meniscus tear in his right knee during the Nets' game against Boston the previous night. On June 30, 2016, Jack was waived by the Nets.
Following his departure from the Nets, Jack signed with the Atlanta Hawks on July 15, 2016. Despite this, he was waived by the Hawks on October 20, 2016, due to his ongoing recovery from the torn right knee ligaments suffered in the 2015-16 season. He had been unable to participate in training camp and sat out all seven of the Hawks' preseason exhibition games.
3.1.8. New Orleans Pelicans (2017)
On February 24, 2017, Jarrett Jack signed a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, marking his second stint with the franchise. However, his return was brief, as on March 3, 2017, he was once again sidelined due to injury, this time a right lateral meniscus tear, which was expected to keep him out for four to six weeks.
3.1.9. New York Knicks (2017-2018)
On September 15, 2017, Jack signed with the New York Knicks. During his tenure with the Knicks, he delivered several notable performances. On November 24, 2017, he recorded 10 points and a season-high 14 assists against the Atlanta Hawks. On December 10, 2017, also against the Hawks, he scored a new season-high of 19 points. On January 10, 2018, Jack achieved his first triple-double in six years, tallying 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 122-119 double overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls. Four days later, he set another season high with 22 points in a 123-118 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Jack briefly re-signed with the Pelicans on September 19, 2018, before being waived on October 13, 2018.
3.2. NBA G League
After his NBA playing career, Jarrett Jack continued to play professionally in the NBA G League, providing his veteran presence to developmental teams.
On March 5, 2019, Jack was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. However, in his sole appearance for the Skyforce, he suffered a significant injury, tearing the ACL and lateral meniscus and spraining the MCL in his left knee, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Despite this setback, on November 26, 2019, Jack was re-acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On January 14, 2021, he signed with the NBA G League Ignite, a team designed to develop elite young prospects.
4. Coaching career
Following a distinguished playing career, Jarrett Jack transitioned into professional basketball coaching, leveraging his extensive experience on the court.
4.1. Phoenix Suns (2021-2023)
On August 7, 2021, Jarrett Jack officially began his coaching career when he was hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He remained with the team for two seasons.
4.2. Detroit Pistons (2023-present)
On June 16, 2023, Jack was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. This move reunited him with head coach Monty Williams, under whom Jack had previously served as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns.
5. Career statistics
Jarrett Jack's professional playing career statistics reflect his consistent contributions across various NBA teams and roles.
5.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | Games played | Games started | Minutes per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point field-goal percentage | Free-throw percentage | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Portland | 79 | 4 | 20.2 | .442 | .263 | .800 | 2.0 | 2.8 | .5 | .0 | 6.7 |
| 2006 | Portland | 79 | 79 | 33.6 | .454 | .350 | .871 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 1.1 | .1 | 12.0 |
| 2007 | Portland | 82 | 16 | 27.2 | .431 | .342 | .867 | 2.9 | 3.8 | .7 | .0 | 9.9 |
| 2008 | Indiana | 82 | 53 | 33.1 | .453 | .353 | .852 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .2 | 13.1 |
| 2009 | Toronto | 82 | 43 | 27.4 | .481 | .412 | .842 | 2.7 | 5.0 | .7 | .1 | 11.4 |
| 2010 | Toronto | 13 | 13 | 26.7 | .393 | .167 | .870 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.1 | .0 | 10.8 |
| 2010 | New Orleans | 70 | 2 | 19.6 | .412 | .345 | .845 | 1.9 | 2.6 | .6 | .1 | 8.5 |
| 2011 | New Orleans | 45 | 39 | 34.0 | .456 | .348 | .872 | 3.9 | 6.3 | .7 | .2 | 15.6 |
| 2012 | Golden State | 79 | 4 | 29.7 | .452 | .404 | .843 | 3.1 | 5.5 | .8 | .1 | 12.9 |
| 2013 | Cleveland | 80 | 31 | 28.2 | .410 | .341 | .839 | 2.8 | 4.1 | .7 | .3 | 9.5 |
| 2014 | Brooklyn | 80 | 27 | 28.0 | .439 | .267 | .881 | 3.1 | 4.7 | .9 | .2 | 12.0 |
| 2015 | Brooklyn | 32 | 32 | 32.1 | .391 | .304 | .893 | 4.3 | 7.4 | 1.1 | .2 | 12.8 |
| 2016 | New Orleans | 2 | 0 | 16.5 | .667 | .000 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| 2017 | New York | 62 | 56 | 25.0 | .427 | .291 | .840 | 3.1 | 5.6 | .6 | .1 | 7.5 |
| Career | 867 | 399 | 27.8 | .440 | .343 | .855 | 2.9 | 4.6 | .8 | .1 | 10.8 | |
5.2. Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games played | Games started | Minutes per game | Field goal percentage | 3-point field-goal percentage | Free-throw percentage | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | New Orleans | 6 | 0 | 18.5 | .353 | .000 | .688 | 2.5 | 2.2 | .2 | .2 | 5.8 |
| 2013 | Golden State | 12 | 4 | 35.5 | .506 | .292 | .896 | 4.4 | 4.7 | .9 | .3 | 17.2 |
| 2015 | Brooklyn | 6 | 0 | 25.5 | .519 | .333 | 1.000 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 1.2 | .2 | 12.3 |
| Career | 24 | 4 | 28.8 | .488 | .273 | .870 | 3.9 | 4.0 | .8 | .3 | 13.1 | |
6. Personal life
Jarrett Jack is related to former NBA player Chris Duhon, who is his cousin.