Jim Jackson
Born: October 14, 1970
Number:22
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 220
Position: SG/SF
Yrs w/Kings: 2002-03 (1 year)
How Acquired: Free agent Nov. 2002
How Departed: Free agency 2003
Extremely talented shooting guard who had every tool in the toolbox except the ability to get along, Jackson was big, physical, could shoot, handle, pass, post, defend and do anything else he was called upon to do. And yet he turned his All Star talent into a journeyman career, operating as a gun for hire, wearing out his welcome, and moving on to the next stop. He was still unsigned after the 2002-03 season started, and the Kings picked him up in late November. A tough physical defensive minded veteran by that point, he eventually outcompeted Hedo Turkoglu for the backup SF position, and was an integral part of the best defensive team in Sacramento history. After the season ended with Chris Webber's devastating knee injury, the franchise began to retrench financially, and Jackson signed away with Houston.
College and Pre Kings Career
Jackson was a highly decorated collegian, becoming a 2x time consensus First Team All American as a junior and senior and teaming with fellow future King Lawrence Funderburke to lead Ohio State to national prominence.
After being taken with the 4th overall pick in the 1992 Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson seemed destined for major stardom, and in his third season averaged 25.7pts teaming with fellow young guns Jamal Mashburn and Jason Kidd, as the Mavs appeared to be on the rise. But the trio had a ridiculous immature falling out, reportedly fighting over a woman (rumored to be singer Toni Braxton), and the entire team collapsed, as did Jackson's rise to stardom. He began to bounce from team to team, normally putting up strong if not star numbers, but almost inevitably finding something to be unhappy with, whether it be shots, losing, minutes etc. After gaining a reputation as a difficult player, for the remainder of his career Jackson was reduced to signing short 1 or 2 year deals with teams, often after the season had already begun, and almost inevitably not being asked to return. Eventually that pattern repeated itself with the Kings.
Post Kings Career
Jackson would continue his odyssey after leaving the Kings, albeit as injuries took their toll now being used as a tough if undersized small forward more often than a shooting guard. He would sign with Houston and play for them for a year and half, Phoenix for a year, and the Lakers for half a season, before his career was finally over at age 35. He would play in 885 regular season games for 12 different NBA teams, tying an NBA record.
Statistics With the Kings
2002-03: 63gms 0GS 20.8min 7.7pts (.442 .451 .855) 4.2reb 1.9ast 0.5stl 0.1blk 1.3TO 2.1FL
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TOTALS: 63gms 0GS 20.8min 7.7pts (.442 .451 .855) 4.2reb 1.9ast 0.5stl 0.1blk 1.3TO 2.1FL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jackson_(basketball)
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jacksji01.html