INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers are fully guaranteeing guard Quenton Jackson’s contract for the 2025-26 season, meaning he will make just more than $2.58 million in his first full year on a standard NBA contract, a league source told the IndyStar on Wednesday.
Jackson’s contract was only partially guaranteed until Wednesday’s deadline. Had the Pacers waived him anytime before then, he would have only been paid $275,000 and the Pacers could have cleared out space under the first luxury tax apron to perhaps add another player. However, they’ve decided to stick with Jackson, an undersized but high-energy, dynamic guard who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and got his foot in the door with Exhibit 10 and two-way contracts before finally getting a standard deal with the Pacers at the end of February.
Jackson, a Los Angeles native played at prep school and junior college before getting a Division I shot at Texas A&M. He earned All-SEC honors there in 2021-22, getting an extra year of eligibility thanks to the COVID pandemic. He wasn’t drafted, originally signed with the Wizards and spent time with the Capital City Go-Go before they put him on a two-way contract. He then joined the Bulls on an Exhibit 10 deal and the Pacers signed him to a two-way contract in March of 2024. He appeared in just three games that season but played 28 and started seven in the 2024-25 season, earning his first NBA starts in November when the Pacers had several players down with injuries.
Jackson was also exceptional for the Pacers in the G League during that time when their affiliate was still known as the Indiana Mad Ants. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds in nine games in the 2023-24 season and 22.5 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in 16 games in 2024-25. Though he was on a two-way deal for most of last season, he played just two games with the Noblesville Boom, averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 assists per game in those games.
In 2025-26, the Pacers were ravaged with injuries all year and Jackson played 49 games, starting 19. He averaged 9.1 points, 2.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. His two-way contract was converted to a standard deal on Feb. 28.
Jackson can play either guard position and gives the Pacers depth at both spots. The Pacers have 14 plays under contract and one standard deal open but they are about $2.2 million short of the first apron where they are hardcapped because they signed forward Kelly Oubre Jr. using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers guarantee Quenton Jackson’s contract for 2026-27 season; what it means
Reporting by Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
