Trayce Jackson-Davis Bio
Trayce Jackson-Davis, often known by his initials TJD, is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on February 22, 2000, in Greenwood, Indiana, he starred at Center Grove High School before playing college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. Selected 57th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, he has built a reputation as a versatile forward with a strong combination of scoring, rebounding, and rim protection.
Early Life and Background
Trayce Jackson-Davis grew up in Greenwood, Indiana, in a deeply athletic household. As a young child, he survived two serious accidents, including a skull fracture at age four involving a resistance band and a golf-club incident at age six that fractured his cheekbone and eye socket, requiring surgery. These early experiences did not slow his development, and he discovered basketball at a young age. He played on the B team in middle school, but a significant growth spurt before ninth grade transformed his game and his prospects.
He attended Center Grove High School in Greenwood, where he developed into one of the most decorated players in program history. As a junior, he averaged 21.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game while helping the Trojans post a 20-win season and reach the 4A regional final. During his senior year, he led Center Grove to a 21–8 record and a berth in the Class 4A state tournament semifinals, entering the semifinals with 1,768 career points. He was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American in 2019, capping his high school career with national recognition.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school, Jackson-Davis was a four-star recruit recognized by Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN. He drew scholarship offers from Indiana, Michigan State, UCLA, Ohio State, Purdue, and Xavier, among others. On November 30, 2018, he narrowed his choices to Indiana, Michigan State, and UCLA, and committed to playing for the Indiana Hoosiers, choosing to stay close to home and build on the program’s tradition.
He made his college debut during the 2019–20 season and immediately showed promise, earning multiple Big Ten freshman-of-the-week honors and finishing the year on the All-Freshman Team while averaging 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. His development accelerated each season, transforming him from a promising local recruit into one of the most dominant big men in the Big Ten and a legitimate NBA prospect.
Trayce Jackson-Davis Career
Early College Career (2019–2021)
As a freshman, Jackson-Davis started every game and was one of only four freshmen in the country to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage, and blocks. He capped the year with Third Team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and the media. His freshman averages of 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game signaled his two-way potential.
His sophomore season in 2020–21 saw his production jump to 19.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He was recognized as a third-team All-American by the Sporting News, the NABC, and the USBWA, and he was named a Wooden Award finalist. These accomplishments established him as a centerpiece of the Indiana program and a future professional prospect.
Big Ten Stardom (2021–2023)
Heading into his junior year, new Indiana head coach Mike Woodson took over, and Jackson-Davis returned to help lead the Hoosiers. On November 27, 2021, he erupted for a career-high 43 points in a win over Marshall, becoming the first Indiana player to score at least 40 points in 27 years. He averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game that season, earning Second Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors.
His senior season in 2022–23 was his most decorated. He averaged career bests of 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game, leading Indiana to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. He was named a consensus first-team All-American, won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward, and was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection. He also became the first player in Big Ten history to win four consecutive conference Player of the Week awards.
Golden State Warriors Era (2023–Present)
Jackson-Davis was selected 57th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft after the Washington Wizards traded his draft rights for cash considerations. He made his regular-season debut on October 27, 2023, against the Sacramento Kings and quickly earned rotation minutes, highlighted by a 13-point, nine-rebound, four-block performance against the New Orleans Pelicans. On December 19, 2023, he recorded his first NBA double-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in an overtime win over the Boston Celtics.
He set a career high with 20 points against the Houston Rockets on April 4, 2024, and finished his rookie season averaging 1.1 blocks per game, fourth among NBA rookies. On March 9, 2025, he was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s G League affiliate, an opportunity he described as a chance to get consistent minutes rather than a setback.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jackson-Davis is a high-energy forward whose strengths lie around the basket, where he combines a strong frame, soft hands, and above-average rim protection. He excels at finishing through contact, controlling the glass on both ends, and protecting the rim, skills that translate to productive minutes as a small-ball five or a high-motor four. His willingness to set screens, roll hard, and switch defensively also makes him a natural fit in Golden State’s motion-based system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, his 43-point outburst against Marshall in 2021 stands out as one of the greatest single-game performances in recent Indiana history. He also became Indiana’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,143) and blocked shots (270), placing third on the program’s all-time scoring list with 2,258 points. In the NBA, his late-season surge as a rookie, including a career-high 20 points against Houston, underscored his long-term value to the Warriors.
Trayce Jackson-Davis Career Wins
While individual statistical milestones are Jackson-Davis’s hallmark, his career has been decorated with team and individual awards across the high school, college, and professional ranks. He helped Center Grove win county and sectional titles in 2017–18, led Indiana to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and earned a gold medal with the United States Under-18 national team at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship.
College Highlights
Over four seasons with the Hoosiers, Jackson-Davis established himself as one of the most productive big men in program history. He finished as Indiana’s all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots, third in scoring, and third in double-doubles. His trophy case includes the Karl Malone Award, consensus first-team All-American honors, multiple All-Big Ten selections, and a Wooden Award finalist nod as a sophomore.
Other Wins and Performances
Jackson-Davis also represented the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, helping the team capture the gold medal. He was honored as the 2019 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year for his combined athletic, academic, and community-service achievements, including volunteering as a youth basketball coach and at the Wheeler Mission Center in Indianapolis.
Trayce Jackson-Davis Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jackson-Davis is the biological son of former Indiana Pacers power forward and center Dale Davis. He was raised by his mother and his stepfather, former Washington State Cougars football player Ray Jackson, who played a central role in his development. He also has a sister, Arielle Bellian, and two brothers, including Shaun Jackson, who played professionally in Europe and with the Harlem Globetrotters, and Tayven Jackson, a college quarterback who has played for Tennessee, Indiana, and UCF.
Personal Life
Originally going by the last name Davis, Jackson-Davis chose to hyphenate his surname entering high school to honor both his biological father and the stepfather who raised him, explaining that he did not feel it was fair to use only one name. He has continued to carry that identity into his professional career, where teammates and fans alike know him by the initials TJD.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year represents a pivotal stretch in Jackson-Davis’s development with the Golden State Warriors organization. After a productive rookie season in which he averaged 1.1 blocks per game, fourth among NBA rookies, he was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors in March 2025 to gain more consistent minutes and refine his game. He framed the move as an opportunity rather than a setback, emphasizing his intent to return to the NBA rotation stronger and more polished.
Throughout the early portion of the calendar year, Jackson-Davis has continued to work on his perimeter skills, screen-setting timing, and defensive versatility, all areas Golden State values in its frontcourt players. His ability to play both the four and the five gives the Warriors additional lineup flexibility, and his energy on the glass and at the rim remain his calling cards. With Golden State’s regular-season push and potential playoff seeding in focus, his minutes in the NBA rotation are likely to grow as the year progresses.
Looking ahead, Jackson-Davis’s primary goal for the remainder of 2025 is to solidify a consistent role in Golden State’s rotation and to build on the foundation established during his rookie year. Continued development of his three-point shooting and pick-and-roll reads will be key to expanding his offensive responsibilities. If he can stay healthy and productive, he is positioned to be a long-term contributor to a Warriors team that values versatile, high-IQ big men.