KP
Starter
Bobby Jackson says ...
'We had a great thing going. ... Sometimes change is not good'
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14057526p-14888686c.html
Nothing personal, fellas, but Bobby Jackson said the view looks just fine now.
His new club, the Memphis Grizzlies, sports 21 victories, fifth-most in the NBA. The Kings? Fishtailing right along at 13-19.
Jackson is the former Kings guard who represented one sure element during his five Sacramento seasons: undying will. He would bolt off the bench and push his revolutions per minute deep into the red, when he was healthy and not on four blocks with any assortment of ailments. He said he was jolted by the summer trade that placed him with the Grizzlies and Bonzi Wells in Kings colors, but as for wins and losses? The more for Memphis, the merrier, Jackson explained Monday, and not so many for the Kings.
"I still talk to the guys there, but when you get traded, you want the team that moved you to struggle, so it looks like they could have done better with you," Jackson said by phone. "I don't want them winning more than our team. At first I wasn't happy about the trade, but I'm OK with it now. I'm glad I'm not there with all those losses. I'm in a great place and a great situation.
"But you know, we had a great thing going in Sacramento. I think about that. They went young, brought in new people. Sometimes change is not good."
Initially, Jackson didn't want to think change was good for him. He now stands corrected. The standings reflect as much. So does his role on the roster and his place in the community. He's rounding back into shape after missing eight games with a hamstring injury, and he's starting in place of Damon Stoudamire, who is out for the season with a blown knee. And, typical Bobby, he'll fire away on offense, even if it chaps a coach in Mike Fratello who much prefers to call every play.
Jackson also bristles at any notion that the Grizzlies might be in the market for another guard, via trade, when he'll tell you with all conviction he's the man for the job.
"I've never really have been in a situation where I could run my own team," he said. "I've got to be more productive but smart about it, and be more of a leader. Can I do it? Of course."
Jackson said he's experiencing in Memphis some of the fan affection that made him a beloved King. With the Grizzlies, general manager Jerry West has assembled a remade outfit that is pushing San Antonio and Dallas in the Southwest Division. And West has said Jackson's grit will enhance the team and appeal to the fans.
"The fans like the way I play," Jackson said. "And that's hard all the time. You always need that on a team. That's what I did in Sacramento. That's what I'll always do."
The Kings dealt Jackson because, for all of his perpetual energy, he couldn't remain upright, and they wanted to get bigger at the position. He missed 112 games in his final three Kings seasons, with every sort of freak injury sidelining a man who otherwise had to be dragged off the practice floor. There was the broken hand, the torn thumb ligament, the lower abdominal strain. He became an MRI and X-ray regular.
With the Kings slipping, the team was splintered, with Vlade Divac, Doug Christie and Chris Webber preceding Jackson in departing.
"We were trying to reconfigure our team," Kings president Geoff Petrie said. "We needed a bigger two-guard. Until Bonzi got hurt (with a partial groin tear), he was close to having a career year."
Jackson understands now, saying had he remained healthy, he's sure he would have remained a King.
"I think they were worried about all the injuries," Jackson said of the Kings. "But I've been doubted before, doubted my entire career.
"Some people wonder if I can replace Damon here after being a backup for so long. Doubts make me stronger, make me play harder, work harder. When I hear, 'Oh, we're in trouble now that Damon's out,' it really pushes me."
There were doubts about Jackson when he initially landed with the Kings in 2000, too. Could he shoot, for one?
Jackson turned into one of the most driven and effective athletes the Kings ever employed, parlaying his quickness and tenacity with a reliable jumper into the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2003. He became the Kings' most appreciated player, eliciting roars when he entered games.
"He turned into a Mr. Offense and Mr. Excitement type of player," Petrie said. "On top of that, he had a good all-around spirit here. When we got him, the knock on him was he couldn't make the 15-footer. He made himself the best player he could be. You really felt bad for him with all those freaky kind of injuries. I hope it works out for him. He's not the biggest guy, but he plays bigger than he is, and he's got a huge heart. Those players are generally fan favorites."
Jackson said he has settled into his new surroundings along with his wife and four kids. The change was an adjustment for his adopted 15-year-old nephew, Chris, who is a ninth-grader and the oldest of the brood.
"First thing I thought about after the trade was my family and how it would work for them," Jackson said. "We're all happy now."
Jackson's contract expires at the end of the season, when he'll be 33. He'd like to remain in Memphis, and he knows one thing for certain.
"I don't want to play for a rebuilding team," he said. "I'm too old for that. This far into the league, I won't play for a loser."
Location change - The Kings' Friday night game against the New Orleans Hornets has been moved to the University of Oklahoma's Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The game originally had been scheduled at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., but was moved last week.
"This far into the league, I won't play for a loser."
-- Guess he's not coming back any time soon.
'We had a great thing going. ... Sometimes change is not good'
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14057526p-14888686c.html
Nothing personal, fellas, but Bobby Jackson said the view looks just fine now.
His new club, the Memphis Grizzlies, sports 21 victories, fifth-most in the NBA. The Kings? Fishtailing right along at 13-19.
Jackson is the former Kings guard who represented one sure element during his five Sacramento seasons: undying will. He would bolt off the bench and push his revolutions per minute deep into the red, when he was healthy and not on four blocks with any assortment of ailments. He said he was jolted by the summer trade that placed him with the Grizzlies and Bonzi Wells in Kings colors, but as for wins and losses? The more for Memphis, the merrier, Jackson explained Monday, and not so many for the Kings.
"I still talk to the guys there, but when you get traded, you want the team that moved you to struggle, so it looks like they could have done better with you," Jackson said by phone. "I don't want them winning more than our team. At first I wasn't happy about the trade, but I'm OK with it now. I'm glad I'm not there with all those losses. I'm in a great place and a great situation.
"But you know, we had a great thing going in Sacramento. I think about that. They went young, brought in new people. Sometimes change is not good."
Initially, Jackson didn't want to think change was good for him. He now stands corrected. The standings reflect as much. So does his role on the roster and his place in the community. He's rounding back into shape after missing eight games with a hamstring injury, and he's starting in place of Damon Stoudamire, who is out for the season with a blown knee. And, typical Bobby, he'll fire away on offense, even if it chaps a coach in Mike Fratello who much prefers to call every play.
Jackson also bristles at any notion that the Grizzlies might be in the market for another guard, via trade, when he'll tell you with all conviction he's the man for the job.
"I've never really have been in a situation where I could run my own team," he said. "I've got to be more productive but smart about it, and be more of a leader. Can I do it? Of course."
Jackson said he's experiencing in Memphis some of the fan affection that made him a beloved King. With the Grizzlies, general manager Jerry West has assembled a remade outfit that is pushing San Antonio and Dallas in the Southwest Division. And West has said Jackson's grit will enhance the team and appeal to the fans.
"The fans like the way I play," Jackson said. "And that's hard all the time. You always need that on a team. That's what I did in Sacramento. That's what I'll always do."
The Kings dealt Jackson because, for all of his perpetual energy, he couldn't remain upright, and they wanted to get bigger at the position. He missed 112 games in his final three Kings seasons, with every sort of freak injury sidelining a man who otherwise had to be dragged off the practice floor. There was the broken hand, the torn thumb ligament, the lower abdominal strain. He became an MRI and X-ray regular.
With the Kings slipping, the team was splintered, with Vlade Divac, Doug Christie and Chris Webber preceding Jackson in departing.
"We were trying to reconfigure our team," Kings president Geoff Petrie said. "We needed a bigger two-guard. Until Bonzi got hurt (with a partial groin tear), he was close to having a career year."
Jackson understands now, saying had he remained healthy, he's sure he would have remained a King.
"I think they were worried about all the injuries," Jackson said of the Kings. "But I've been doubted before, doubted my entire career.
"Some people wonder if I can replace Damon here after being a backup for so long. Doubts make me stronger, make me play harder, work harder. When I hear, 'Oh, we're in trouble now that Damon's out,' it really pushes me."
There were doubts about Jackson when he initially landed with the Kings in 2000, too. Could he shoot, for one?
Jackson turned into one of the most driven and effective athletes the Kings ever employed, parlaying his quickness and tenacity with a reliable jumper into the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2003. He became the Kings' most appreciated player, eliciting roars when he entered games.
"He turned into a Mr. Offense and Mr. Excitement type of player," Petrie said. "On top of that, he had a good all-around spirit here. When we got him, the knock on him was he couldn't make the 15-footer. He made himself the best player he could be. You really felt bad for him with all those freaky kind of injuries. I hope it works out for him. He's not the biggest guy, but he plays bigger than he is, and he's got a huge heart. Those players are generally fan favorites."
Jackson said he has settled into his new surroundings along with his wife and four kids. The change was an adjustment for his adopted 15-year-old nephew, Chris, who is a ninth-grader and the oldest of the brood.
"First thing I thought about after the trade was my family and how it would work for them," Jackson said. "We're all happy now."
Jackson's contract expires at the end of the season, when he'll be 33. He'd like to remain in Memphis, and he knows one thing for certain.
"I don't want to play for a rebuilding team," he said. "I'm too old for that. This far into the league, I won't play for a loser."
Location change - The Kings' Friday night game against the New Orleans Hornets has been moved to the University of Oklahoma's Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The game originally had been scheduled at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., but was moved last week.
"This far into the league, I won't play for a loser."
-- Guess he's not coming back any time soon.
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