Reggie Jackson Chose Not To Play A Game In November Because He Wasn’t Traded
Now that Reggie Jackson is happily a member of the Detroit Pistons, we can address how much he truly wanted out of Oklahoma City.
Jackson, the young sixth man for the Thunder, was traded to Detroit on Thursday’s trade deadline in a deal that brought D.J. Augustin to the Thunder, along with other pieces. Though slated to be a restricted free agent this summer, Jackson was adamant about being traded.
As ESPN’s Royce Young reports, Jackson’s desire to leave was evident from early in the season:
Two days before the Thunder’s season opener in Portland, Jackson sprained his ankle and missed the team’s first two games. In their third game, the Nov. 1 home opener against the Nuggets, Jackson was cleared to play, but according to a source, refused to because of disappointment that he wasn’t traded before the Oct. 31 extension deadline for first-round picks entering their fourth season, like Harden before him. Jackson spoke at shootaround that morning, coyly saying he probably wouldn’t play that night. Immediately after finishing his session, he grabbed a ball and threw down an impressive drop-step windmill dunk — in front of reporters and his teammates.
So these two sides were clearly fated to separate.
Jackson was a huge part of this Oklahoma City team in his tenure. His development and confidence grew tremendously in his experience playing alongside two of the best players in the league, more particularly his experience as the team’s lead guard when Russell Westbrook went down in the postseason two years ago. Jackson’s role did fluctuate because of injuries to both Westbrook and Durant over the last couple of years, but for some reason must not have felt like he belonged.
Now he feels wanted in Detroit, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
“I’ve always dreamed about this, and I was never sure it would happen,” Jackson told Yahoo Sports. “Stan (Van Gundy) believes in me, in the leader that I can be. He believes in the player that I can be, and I’ve always imagined having a coach like this, an opportunity like this, in the NBA.”
“The whole time, I was honest,” he said. “I wanted to start. And then, I became the problem in the locker room to people who have never been in our locker room. …I mean, come on.
“Coming here, this is such a weight off my shoulders, a new beginning. To come play with a new group of guys, to start to change this perception of me, I can’t wait to get to the arena tonight and meet them all.”
