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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12906044p-13754493c.html
by Joe Davidson, Bee Staff Writer
Bobby Jackson's season never really ended. The Kings' campaign came to a grinding halt two weeks ago in Seattle, with the club trying to contain Ray Allen and enemy elbows, all while trying to find itself on the fly. Jackson was as frustrated as anyone, shut out in three of the five first-round NBA playoff games.
But he's still active, working daily at Basketball Town in Rancho Cordova and at the Kings' practice facility to the point sweat runs off his chin and elbows like a slow faucet drip. It can be argued Jackson has shortened his seasons because he's too involved, with little regard to life or limb. But he's convinced only rotten luck has haunted him, with a severe lower abdominal strain two years ago and a torn wrist ligament this season limiting the guard to a combined 75 games.
So what does he do now? Gear down? Fat chance. To know Jackson is to understand he'd mow his lawn at a full sprint.
"My injuries, they've been fluke, crazy stuff more than anything," Jackson said Monday afternoon. "I'll never tone my game down. Now out here, I won't try to block someone's shot as hard as an NBA game, but otherwise, I'm not slowin' down."
Jackson, his eighth NBA season behind him, said Kings management has informed him the club option on his contract will be picked up. It makes sense, considering his worth and how much of a bargain he really is. At $3.3 million for 2005-06, Jackson will for the second straight season be the ninth-highest-paid player on the Kings' roster. There were 166 NBA players who had higher salaries than Jackson this season.
Last summer, Jackson said he was hopeful the Kings wouldn't pick up the option so he could shop his services for more riches by this time. Now he has changed his tune, although Jackson knows he could command more dollars elsewhere as a starter. And he's not likely to start in Sacramento as long as Mike Bibby plays like Mike Bibby.
"I've got four kids, plus an (adopted) nephew here, so family is real important, and it's a great city," said Jackson, who added he wouldn't be surprised if he or any number of teammates is traded this summer. "I've got a lot invested here. I definitely want to be here. ... If the Kings don't want to pay me next summer (with an extension), I don't know, we'll see. But my first option is to be here."
Jackson said he'd like to see the Kings really commit to defense instead of just talking about it. He said the Kings can still win with Rick Adelman as coach and that any talk of Phil Jackson coming to rescue the team is more fiction than anything. He sensed the Kings changed after the Feb. 23 trade of Chris Webber to the Philadelphia 76ers, although not necessarily for the better.
"I thought we lost a lot of focus," Jackson said. "And in terms of playing defense, it's a mind thing. If you're a great offensive player, why not do it on defense?"
Jackson said about the only good that came from his injury last season was he had a chance of some closure with his mother. Sarah Jackson died two seasons ago from breast cancer and is buried in Salisbury, N.C., where Bobby Jackson normally spends his summers.
"It's hard to go home now because there are so many reminders of my mom," Jackson said. "This is home for me now."
Jackson said he watched a television program in March about people trying to find the courage to visit a loved one's grave site for the first time.
"Right away, I went back to North Carolina," Jackson said. "It was a build-up process for me. I didn't want to come to grips with her being gone. It took me two years to visit her site. I'm glad I did. I cleaned her site, put down some flowers, sat there and talked to her. Best thing I did all season."
by Joe Davidson, Bee Staff Writer
Bobby Jackson's season never really ended. The Kings' campaign came to a grinding halt two weeks ago in Seattle, with the club trying to contain Ray Allen and enemy elbows, all while trying to find itself on the fly. Jackson was as frustrated as anyone, shut out in three of the five first-round NBA playoff games.
But he's still active, working daily at Basketball Town in Rancho Cordova and at the Kings' practice facility to the point sweat runs off his chin and elbows like a slow faucet drip. It can be argued Jackson has shortened his seasons because he's too involved, with little regard to life or limb. But he's convinced only rotten luck has haunted him, with a severe lower abdominal strain two years ago and a torn wrist ligament this season limiting the guard to a combined 75 games.
So what does he do now? Gear down? Fat chance. To know Jackson is to understand he'd mow his lawn at a full sprint.
"My injuries, they've been fluke, crazy stuff more than anything," Jackson said Monday afternoon. "I'll never tone my game down. Now out here, I won't try to block someone's shot as hard as an NBA game, but otherwise, I'm not slowin' down."
Jackson, his eighth NBA season behind him, said Kings management has informed him the club option on his contract will be picked up. It makes sense, considering his worth and how much of a bargain he really is. At $3.3 million for 2005-06, Jackson will for the second straight season be the ninth-highest-paid player on the Kings' roster. There were 166 NBA players who had higher salaries than Jackson this season.
Last summer, Jackson said he was hopeful the Kings wouldn't pick up the option so he could shop his services for more riches by this time. Now he has changed his tune, although Jackson knows he could command more dollars elsewhere as a starter. And he's not likely to start in Sacramento as long as Mike Bibby plays like Mike Bibby.
"I've got four kids, plus an (adopted) nephew here, so family is real important, and it's a great city," said Jackson, who added he wouldn't be surprised if he or any number of teammates is traded this summer. "I've got a lot invested here. I definitely want to be here. ... If the Kings don't want to pay me next summer (with an extension), I don't know, we'll see. But my first option is to be here."
Jackson said he'd like to see the Kings really commit to defense instead of just talking about it. He said the Kings can still win with Rick Adelman as coach and that any talk of Phil Jackson coming to rescue the team is more fiction than anything. He sensed the Kings changed after the Feb. 23 trade of Chris Webber to the Philadelphia 76ers, although not necessarily for the better.
"I thought we lost a lot of focus," Jackson said. "And in terms of playing defense, it's a mind thing. If you're a great offensive player, why not do it on defense?"
Jackson said about the only good that came from his injury last season was he had a chance of some closure with his mother. Sarah Jackson died two seasons ago from breast cancer and is buried in Salisbury, N.C., where Bobby Jackson normally spends his summers.
"It's hard to go home now because there are so many reminders of my mom," Jackson said. "This is home for me now."
Jackson said he watched a television program in March about people trying to find the courage to visit a loved one's grave site for the first time.
"Right away, I went back to North Carolina," Jackson said. "It was a build-up process for me. I didn't want to come to grips with her being gone. It took me two years to visit her site. I'm glad I did. I cleaned her site, put down some flowers, sat there and talked to her. Best thing I did all season."
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