J.R. Smith Embraces Phil Jackson’s Dennis Rodman Comparison
Sometimes we’re not sure whether or not someone is complimenting us or being crass and sarcastic. In J.R. Smith’s case, he sees it as a compliment for his new boss Phil Jackson to liken him to Dennis Rodman in Jackson’s recent Q&A with the New York Post‘s Steve Serby.
Smith’s thoughts on Jackson’s remarks came via the New York Daily News‘ Peter Botte:
Last time I checked Dennis Rodman’s got what three, four rings?” Smith said Tuesday about the Worm, who actually won five NBA titles with the Pistons and Jackson’s Bulls during his career. “I’m not offended by that. It’s an honor. He’s a Hall of Famer. And to be put in the same words as a Hall of Famer is something special. So I’m not offended at all.
Jackson connected Smith to Rodman when Serby asked about his plans to derail J.R. from antics both on and off the court. Managing major personalities became one of Jackson’s gifts in his tenures with Chicago and Los Angeles. If he can work with the likes of Rodman, Shaq, Kobe, and Michael Jordan, there may just be hope for J.R. Smith yet.
To Jackson’s analogy – while he is not the enforcer or imposing presence that Rodman was, Smith is a vital spark for this Knicks team that must truly hone his abilities and mindset in order to tap into the potential he (still) has to be an intricate part of their success.
That’s what Dennis Rodman did.
