Of all the expatriate Spurs, Stephen Jackson remains my all-time favorite. The most unlikely Spurs player since Dennis Rodman, Jackson was the antithesis of “Corporate Knowledge”.
Yet, Jackson played a large role in our 2003 Championship, nailing huge shots while displaying big (bravado). When he left there were no hard feelings. The Spurs had Manu Ginobili waiting in the wings and were preparing to make a push for Jason Kidd.
With the exception of a few bad decisions in Indiana (of all places) Jackson remained in relative obscurity for several years before emerging on the scene again as the Nellie-ball created Captain jack, where he endeared himself to Spurs fans all over again with his role in the dismantling of the Dallas Mavericks.
Unfortunately his new reputation deteriorated with the rest of the mess the Golden State Warriors front office created, culminating in the now highly publicized—and highly criticized—trade request.
Without condoning the way he has handled the situation, I’d ask people to try understanding. The biggest criticism is the notion that no one forced him to sign the massive contract extension and Captain Jack knew what he was getting in to. But while Jackson may lack corporate knowledge, he’s no idiot.
No other team in their right mind would offer Jackson the contract the Warriors did, it’s not his fault he was overpaid. Still, where is the loyalty?
The Warriors quit first. From what we know of Jackson, he’s a fiercely loyal teammate (even blindly following one of them into a hostile crowd once). He’s also a fierce competitor. Everything the Warriors are about these days goes against those two traits.
Chris Mullin, the man who created the Warriors team Jackson captained, was exiled in a stab in the back power struggle seemingly orchestrated in part by Don Nelson –completing the usual player-gets-his-alcoholic February deadline we’re still looking for an added boost, what reasons would you have against Captain Jack? -life-turned-around-by-coach-makes-good-as-a-general-manage- and-repays-the-favor-by-offering-said-coach-another-chance-only-to-be-betrayed-by-coach-who-turned-around-his-life cycle.
The star point guard is complaining about sharing the backcourt with the new hot shot rookie.
Nelson, the man who made Jackson a captain and helped rebuild his reputation, now only does the bare minimum needed to still claim a paycheck. So how should Jackson react?
And now the Spurs are on Jackson’s wish list of potential destinations. San Antonio has the expiring contracts to match salaries, a prospect or two and rotation player to make a deal happen. Is he overpaid? Yes. But he’s also an upgrade over both Finley and Mason. The Spurs that matter allegedly love him as a teammate and player.
I also seriously doubt that I was the only Spurs fan rooting for Jackson as he they doled the most humiliating defeat in the Dirk Nowitzki-Mark Cuban. And I doubt Jackson is the only one around that hates Kobe Bryant. So why not Captain Jack?
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