Two hours before tipoff between the Memphis Grizzlies and Clippers on Friday night at FedExForum, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard practiced midrange jumpers in a mostly empty arena.

Mostly empty, that is, except for a few fans and a 6-foot-9 forward from the other team whose eyes followed Leonard everywhere he went.

"I kinda just like the way he moves," GG Jackson told the Commercial Appeal pregame. "And . . ."

He stopped for a second.

"A little star-struck."

Jackson sat near the baseline next to the basket Leonard was practicing on, just as he did last week before the Grizzlies faced the Milwaukee Bucks. That night, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo he was watching.

He told himself that night he would try to do it whenever the Grizzlies faced a "high-caliber player," and Leonard — a two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star — definitely qualifies.

"It's a learning experience," Jackson said. "With Kawhi, see how he gets to his spots. With Giannis, see how he uses all his intangibles to his advantage and hopefully I can take little pieces of their game and try to add them to mine."

Jackson had a pedestrian game Friday night, at least relative to the standards he has set the past month. He scored 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, his lowest scoring total in his past seven games. Leonard, meanwhile, had 24 points and eight rebounds in the Clippers' 101-95 win.

The rookie second-round pick out of South Carolina has made waves recently as a breakout player for the Grizzlies. He was the No. 45 overall pick and started the season on a two-way contract, playing with the Memphis Hustle of the G League. But the Grizzlies' injury crisis meant he got his NBA opportunity quickly, and he has more than capitalized.

He earned a standard NBA contract on Feb. 8 and has helped the Grizzlies to upset wins over the Warriors and Bucks in front of a national television audience. His performance against the Bucks in the game before the All-Star break earned him praise from Antetokounmpo.

"Very good player, man," Antetokounmpo said. "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."

Along with the development of Vince Williams Jr. — who also started the season on a two-way contract before earning a standard one — Jackson has been a bright spot of a disappointing Grizzlies season. He's the youngest player in the NBA, and he's still trying to soak up the experience of playing legitimate NBA minutes as a rookie.

Scoring has come easily to Jackson — he broke Kobe Bryant's record to become the youngest player to score 25 or more points off the bench when he had 27 against the Bulls on Feb. 8. Then he scored 27 off the bench again in the win over the Bucks.

Jackson said pregame that one of the reasons he looks up to Leonard is because "he's got everything, offensively and defensively," and defense is where Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins hopes to see him improve.

“It’s the defense," Jenkins said. "How is he going to continue to lock in on game play and start different positions? Ballhandlers, creators, guys off the ball, the discipline there, that consistency that he’s got to continue to show."

On Friday, Jackson got an opportunity to test himself on both ends of the floor against a pair of elite scorers in Leonard and Paul George. And he came away impressed.

"Hella players," Jackson said. "Hit very tough shots. I call them 'non see-ers.' They don't see defenders when they shoot the ball. That's the level that I want to get to eventually."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Memphis Grizzlies' GG Jackson learned observing Kawhi Leonard