Reggie Jackson rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder guard wants to start
During the postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder made Reggie Jackson a starter and he helped the Thunder get back into their Western Conference Finals series with the San Antonio Spurs before ultimately bowing out in six games.
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Now Jackson is hopeful he can become a full-time starer.
“I don’t think about ever coming off the bench for any team,” Jackson told Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. “If that’s the role I’m put in, that’s what I’m put in. But since the day I thought about playing in the NBA, I’ve always been a starter. Everything I’ve thought about, whether it be middle school, high school, kids leagues, I never envisioned coming off the bench. When you think about playing basketball, you see the first five guys get on the floor, and that’s something I’ve always prided myself on being…”
Jackson not only wants to be a starter, but also wanted to be a leader.
“It’s very prideful for me,” Jackson explained. “I feel like I’m very talented. I feel like I can lead a team. That’s just how I’ve been raised and that’s just how I’ve always felt. I want to be the guy in charge. I want to be the guy leading the team. The head of the snake. I guess that’s just how I’m encrypted DNA-wise.”
Jackson proved what he could do during the playoffs and unless Jeremy Lamb makes big strides this offseason, he could very well start. Incumbent starter Thabo Sefolosha signed with the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason.
Jackson averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44.0% from the field, 33.9% from three and 89.3% from the free throw line during the regular season. He put up 11.1 points, 3.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6% from the floor, 39.6% from beyond the arc and 88.6% from the charity stripe in the postseason. He was selected by the Thunder with the 24th-overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He’s averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.1% from the field, 29.2% from three and 87.7% from the free throw line.
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