After a great senior season at Oak Hill Academy and being the top scorer in the McDonald's All American Game, Stephen Jackson was set to become an Arizona Wildcat and take the next step towards his NBA dream. Unfortunately, academic ineligibility would completely alter his path to the NBA as he could no longer attend the University of Arizona. Luckily. Viriginia Bibby, the mother of Jackson's close friend Mike Bibby got him to go to Phoenix Suns tryouts prior to the 1997 NBA draft where he "served up" Cedric Ceballos. And even though this didn't end how he wanted to, it provided him with what he needed to keep working towards his basketball career in various other leagues including the CBA and NBL. He finally got his shot with the New Jersey Nets in 2001 and never looked back. Jackson would go on to play a 14 year NBA career that saw him win the NBA Finals in San Antonio with Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker and Manu GInobili. He turned this into time with the Atlanta Hawks, then a stint with the Pacers where he would be involved in the infamous Malice at the Palace along with teammates Ron Artest and Jermaine O'neal. Jackson would later find himself as a key contributor for Don Nelson and the We Believe Warriors alongside Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis and Al HArrington. In another change of scenery, Jackson ended up on the Charlotte Bobcats where he would team with Gerald Wallace to lead the franchise to their first playoff appearance. Jackson would round out his career with the Bucks, Spurs and Clippers before hanging em up in 2015. And even though Jackson wasn't the most efficient and could be turnover prone, he was one of the best scorers and offensive players in general when he was on and his above average defense, made him one of the most talented and unlikely journeymen in the NBA.
This is Forgotten Player Profiles, featuring Stephen Jackson.
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2 июн 2023
