There aren't many players in the NBA like Stephen Jackson. That is meant in a variety of ways. With his off the court problems, on the court problems and his pure emotion, Jackson is one of a kind.
Jackson was drafted in the second round in 1997 by the Phoenix Suns, but was waived before taking the floor. He finally played an NBA game three years later joining the New Jersey Nets in 2000.
During his rookie season, Jackson put up solid numbers on a bad New Jersey team (8.2 points per game). After completing a full season with the Nets, Jackson found his way to San Antonio and signed with the Spurs.
Jackson was a critical member of that Spurs team that defeated New Jersey in the 2003 NBA Finals, averaging 12.8 ppg in his first ever playoffs. After a stop in Atlanta where Jackson started to work on his touch as a scorer and great outside shooter, he wound up in Indiana for the 2003-04 season. Jackson was one of the leading scorers for those Pacers teams that went deep in the playoffs.
His most famous moment in Indiana came on the night of November 19, 2004. In the middle of a blowout victory over Eastern Conference rival Detroit, the Ron Artest-Ben Wallace scuffle turned into "The Malice at The Palace." Jackson wasn't holding back either, doing quite a bit of talking on the court as Wallace and Artest got into it. The moment Artest was hit with a cup and hit the stands, Jackson followed. Fighting with Pistons fans on a nationally televised game on ESPN. The fallout became a 30 game suspension for Jackson, and the start of his problems as a Pacer.
In October of 2006 Jackson found trouble at a strip club in Indianapolis. Jackson and some teammates got into an argument with some of the club goers. The aftermath resulted in Jackson being punched, hit by a car (no major injuries) and Jackson firing off shots from a 9-mm pistol, claiming self-defense. On October 11, 2006 Jackson was charged with a felony count of criminal recklessness.
As the 2006-07 season began, Jackson was averaging the lowest point total of his Pacers career. Controversy was surrounding his underachieving team and on January 17, 2007 Jackson and Al Harrington were traded to the Golden State Warriors. Since arriving in Golden State, Jackson has been nothing short of a miracle acquisition for the Bay Area.
In his Warriors debut Jackson put up 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. His stats haven't dipped much either, as he is now putting up the best numbers of his career in Golden State. Upon his arrival to Golden State the team was barely in the playoff picture. The Warriors managed to not only make the playoffs with Jackson's tremendous impact, they pulled off the biggest upset in NBA history. The Warriors defeated the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. Jackson averaged 22.8 ppg during the series, but the Warriors lost to Utah in the second round.
Prior to this season, Jackson was named a co-captain of the Golden State Warriors by head coach Don Nelson. The move was questioned by many, especially since Jackson started the season on a seven game suspension (for his felony charges of firing off the pistol). The Warriors began the season 1-6 and the idea of last season being a fluke of success was definitely becoming more valid as the games went on. Since Jackson's return from suspension the Warriors are 19-9 and right back in the deep playoff race of the Western Conference.
Jackson has averaged career numbers this season as well. "Jack" (as affectionately called by teammates and coaches) has been adding 21.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4 apg and a steal every night for Golden State, along with being that emotional leader they need. His impact on that team cannot be measured in just stats, the wins are obvious.
Consider that the team had no shot to make the playoffs before his arrival last season (let alone beat a 67 win team). Then add the fact that with Jackson serving suspension the team won only one of their first seven games. Jackson definitely is not only making a case for the All-Star team, but the MVP as well, as highly unlikely as that may be for some to fathom.
It's a great story, and it's one of those things that will hopefully make people forget about his troubled past, and also help him completely leave it behind as well. As far as technical fouls go, he will get them. Energy and emotion will always be there for Jackson, it's what makes him the player he is. Learning to control it in big time playoff situations is the only thing he needs to worry about.
Jack now has the confidence of his teammates, coaches and the Warriors fans. It's now time for the rest of the NBA to know how great of a player he is and how much he's grown up.
