As he sits at the end of the bench in these playoffs and is never invited to press conferences, we have almost forgotten that Reggie Jackson joined the Nuggets last February.
Holder at the Clippers at the start of the season, the former leader of the Thunder and the Pistons plays very little, and yet he is the happiest of players. Eleven years after the loss to the Heat in the NBA Finals, Russell Westbrook’s former understudy has never been closer to winning a ring.
“I can’t believe I’m here” did he recognize. “Especially after (my time) in Detroit. I wasn’t sure I would play again, and then there was this resurrection in Los Angeles. This is where everything fell into place, where we had fun. Then being traded was a way of closing the loop. »
Paul George ‘saves’ his career
“A full circle” because Reggie Jackson, a teenager, had revealed himself in Colorado Springs, at General William J. Palmer High School, where he won the title of best player in the state. As for this passage in Detroit, where he had signed a beautiful contract of 80 million dollars, it was a real test, to the point therefore of considering stopping everything.
“We didn’t earn a lot. We certainly made the playoffs, but I was weighed down by injuries. he explained a year ago. “So I was entitled to doubts, criticism from fans, detractors. I really started asking myself questions. And I got to a point where the fun was gone, so I was really thinking about ending my career. »
Eventually, he revived with an 82-game season, then the Pistons cut him, and Paul George “saved” his career by telling him of the Clippers’ interest. But he does not forget the difficulties in Detroit when he played without pleasure, getting used to the embarrassment.
“I didn’t want to do it anymore” repeats Reggie Jackson. “I couldn’t find the reason to get up and keep pushing and improving, for something I’m passionate about and love doing. But I felt like my body was failing me. I felt like I would never be able to be healthy and competitive again. I felt like I was letting people down, my teammates, the franchise. »
In Denver, he finds former Pistons
A few years later, he plays much less, and it is therefore in Denver that he finds himself very close to the title. At the Nuggets who had blocked his way in 2020 in the “bubble”, and he found three former teammates there, Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.
Something to cheer him up as the Clippers adventure ended.
“The last day is coming. I had to come for the match, but I had to pack my bags. You only have a few hours ahead of you. It’s difficult. I knew that, mentally, I had to do it, but I had so much affection for the organization, the city and what is being built there. Links and everything else » remembers Reggie Jackson, before concluding on the happiness of returning to Colorado. “It’s been 11 years since I took part in the Finals. It’s very motivating to be at home and to be part of this team. I feel privileged to be welcomed where I was when I started. (…) I appreciate it in a different way, as I am older and it has been so long since the last time. »
| Reggie Jackson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 45 | 11 | 32.1 | 21.0 | 86.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
| 2012-13 | OKAY | 70 | 14 | 45.8 | 23.1 | 83.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 5.3 |
| 2013-14 | OKAY | 80 | 29 | 44.0 | 33.9 | 89.3 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15* | All Teams | 77 | 30 | 43.4 | 29.9 | 83.0 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 14.5 |
| 2014-15* | OKAY | 50 | 28 | 43.2 | 27.8 | 86.1 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 12.8 |
| 2014-15* | TED | 27 | 32 | 43.6 | 33.7 | 79.6 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 9.2 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 17.6 |
| 2015-16 | TED | 79 | 31 | 43.4 | 35.3 | 86.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 6.2 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 18.9 |
| 2016-17 | TED | 52 | 27 | 41.9 | 35.9 | 86.8 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 14.5 |
| 2017-18 | TED | 45 | 27 | 42.6 | 30.8 | 83.6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 14.6 |
| 2018-19 | TED | 82 | 28 | 42.1 | 36.9 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 15.4 |
| 2019-20 * | All Teams | 31 | 24 | 41.1 | 39.3 | 83.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| 2019-20 * | LAKE | 17 | 21 | 45.3 | 41.3 | 90.5 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 9.5 |
| 2019-20 * | TED | 14 | 27 | 38.4 | 37.8 | 78.8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 14.9 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 67 | 23 | 45.0 | 43.3 | 81.7 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 10.7 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 75 | 31 | 39.2 | 32.6 | 84.7 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 68 | 24 | 41.1 | 33.3 | 91.0 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 10.2 |
| 2022-23 * | LAKE | 52 | 26 | 41.8 | 35.0 | 92.4 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 10.9 |
| 2022-23 * | DEN | 16 | 20 | 38.3 | 27.9 | 83.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 7.9 |
| Total | 771 | 26 | 42.3 | 34.4 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 12.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
