Bobby Jackson: Don’t call it a comeback
Related Images
Bobby Jackson has been one of the NBA’s top reserve guards early this season, averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15 games.
D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
December 6, 2006
Often in the world of entertainment, parallels can be drawn between individuals’ careers (statistically) and personal experiences (ups and downs), which ultimately alter the way they are perceived by the general public. It is not at all uncommon for a comparison to be drawn between the hip-hop world and the world of professional sports. I mean let’s not be naïve here – it is not a rarity to hear the phrase, “Athletes want to be musicians, and musicians want to be athletes.”
But how often has an individual’s career been compared to a song? Just one song, whose lyrics tell a tale of a veteran whose career is perceived to be on the downslide – a story of career rejuvenation. The first verse depicts an artist who feels doubted by the masses and feels the need to reiterate his status amongst the best in his field. The song is LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, and the athlete is Bobby Jackson.
(Gather your CD’s, tapes, iPods and Zunes and hit play.)
♫ "C'mon man... And with the local DBT news, LL Cool J with a triumphant comeback, but tonight... Don't call it a comeback! I been here for years!" ♫
Bobby Jackson is in his 10th season in the NBA. Selected 23rd overall in the first round of the 1997 draft by Seattle (rights traded to Denver), Bobby began his career primarily as a starter. In 68 games in his rookie season, 53 of which were starts, Jackson averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists in roughly 30 minutes per game. Jackson’s play earned him a spot on the second team All-Rookie squad. Although he had an impressive debut season, Bobby was traded in 1998-99 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.
♫ "Rockin my peers and puttin’ suckers in fear; makin’ the tears rain down like a monsoon; Listen to the bass go BOOM; EXPLOSION!" ♫
Action Jackson exploded onto the scene as a member of the Sacramento Kings. Bobby was a consistent spark off the bench for a talented Kings team. In 2001, Bobby finished fourth in voting for the NBA Sixth Man Award. In 2002, he finished second in voting behind Corliss Williamson, and finally in 2003 became only the second point guard in history to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
“It was a great accomplishment,” Jackson says, “but, I wouldn’t have gotten it without my teammates. They got me the ball, but most importantly we won games and everyone played together as a team.”
Although Jackson is coming off a season in 2005-06 where he helped lead the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs, he’s looking to contribute in the same way for the Hornets as he did during his time with the Kings.
Jackson: “I’m maturing, and getting older. I know what to do in certain situations. I am just trying to come out with the same intensity. In Sacramento, I used to play hard all the time. I think that’s why I always got hurt. Now I play hard, but some plays I know not to go past the limit. If you do not learn and get better with this game, then you will not be successful.”
Statistically, his numbers in 2005-06 improved upon his career averages (11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg in 2006), but Jackson was used primarily as a spot-up shooter in the Memphis offense. Memphis’ style of play demanded getting the ball to its interior threat, Pau Gasol, and necessitated that the Grizzlies’ perimeter threats take open threes as the defense collapsed on Gasol. Jackson’s strengths as a player revolve around slashing, penetrating, creating open looks for teammates and creating havoc on the defensive end.
♫ "Overpowerin', over the competition, I'm towerin'" ♫
Bobby Jackson, or B-Jaxx as Hornets fans often refer to him, has returned to form this season. Through a month of action, B-Jaxx has scored in double figures nine of his last 11 games, and is averaging 24.3 minutes in 15 contests. He has wowed fans with several spectacular buckets, most notably in the New Orleans home opener against Houston, and vs. Minnesota at the Ford Center. As the Hornets’ sixth man, and most consistent contributor off the bench early in the season, Bobby has electrified the Hornets and provided the energy he was brought in to supply when spelling, and often playing alongside, guard Chris Paul.
♫ "Don't ever compare me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced, competition's payin' the price!" ♫
The Hornets are anticipating that Jackson’s play this year ceases labels such as “injury-prone.” If that happens, he will be lobbying for a second NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Only two people have successfully captured this award twice in their career. They are Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics (1983-84 and 1984-85) and Detlef Schrempf of the Indiana Pacers (1990-91 and 1991-92).
Interestingly, Jackson says that the Sixth Man of the Year race is sometimes unfair, because many of the players he competes against for the award play far more minutes.
“I believe that if you are playing 30 or more minutes, you are not (the conventional meaning of) a sixth man,” Jackson says. “A sixth man (plays) between 20 and 26 minutes.
“There are a lot of guys out there that play hard off of the bench like me,” continues Jackson, before listing some of the NBA’s premier backup guards. “There is Antonio Daniels, Ben Gordon, Carlos Arroyo, Jose Calderon and Earl Boykins.”
Out of those aforementioned players, only Arroyo (19.1 minutes per game), Daniels (26.0 mpg), and Boykins (23.9) fall into the category of what Jackson considers to a sixth man.
♫ "I'm gonna knock you out!!" ♫
The Hornets hope that with help from his teammates, improved team play, and some luck versus the injury bug, that Bobby Jackson does just that, and knocks out the competition.
Tell us what you think: E-mail editor@hornets.com to provide feedback on this article.
Often in the world of entertainment, parallels can be drawn between individuals’ careers (statistically) and personal experiences (ups and downs), which ultimately alter the way they are perceived by the general public. It is not at all uncommon for a comparison to be drawn between the hip-hop world and the world of professional sports. I mean let’s not be naïve here – it is not a rarity to hear the phrase, “Athletes want to be musicians, and musicians want to be athletes.”
But how often has an individual’s career been compared to a song? Just one song, whose lyrics tell a tale of a veteran whose career is perceived to be on the downslide – a story of career rejuvenation. The first verse depicts an artist who feels doubted by the masses and feels the need to reiterate his status amongst the best in his field. The song is LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, and the athlete is Bobby Jackson.
(Gather your CD’s, tapes, iPods and Zunes and hit play.)
♫ "C'mon man... And with the local DBT news, LL Cool J with a triumphant comeback, but tonight... Don't call it a comeback! I been here for years!" ♫
Bobby Jackson is in his 10th season in the NBA. Selected 23rd overall in the first round of the 1997 draft by Seattle (rights traded to Denver), Bobby began his career primarily as a starter. In 68 games in his rookie season, 53 of which were starts, Jackson averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists in roughly 30 minutes per game. Jackson’s play earned him a spot on the second team All-Rookie squad. Although he had an impressive debut season, Bobby was traded in 1998-99 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings.
♫ "Rockin my peers and puttin’ suckers in fear; makin’ the tears rain down like a monsoon; Listen to the bass go BOOM; EXPLOSION!" ♫
Action Jackson exploded onto the scene as a member of the Sacramento Kings. Bobby was a consistent spark off the bench for a talented Kings team. In 2001, Bobby finished fourth in voting for the NBA Sixth Man Award. In 2002, he finished second in voting behind Corliss Williamson, and finally in 2003 became only the second point guard in history to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
“It was a great accomplishment,” Jackson says, “but, I wouldn’t have gotten it without my teammates. They got me the ball, but most importantly we won games and everyone played together as a team.”
Although Jackson is coming off a season in 2005-06 where he helped lead the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs, he’s looking to contribute in the same way for the Hornets as he did during his time with the Kings.
Jackson: “I’m maturing, and getting older. I know what to do in certain situations. I am just trying to come out with the same intensity. In Sacramento, I used to play hard all the time. I think that’s why I always got hurt. Now I play hard, but some plays I know not to go past the limit. If you do not learn and get better with this game, then you will not be successful.”
Statistically, his numbers in 2005-06 improved upon his career averages (11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg in 2006), but Jackson was used primarily as a spot-up shooter in the Memphis offense. Memphis’ style of play demanded getting the ball to its interior threat, Pau Gasol, and necessitated that the Grizzlies’ perimeter threats take open threes as the defense collapsed on Gasol. Jackson’s strengths as a player revolve around slashing, penetrating, creating open looks for teammates and creating havoc on the defensive end.
♫ "Overpowerin', over the competition, I'm towerin'" ♫
Bobby Jackson, or B-Jaxx as Hornets fans often refer to him, has returned to form this season. Through a month of action, B-Jaxx has scored in double figures nine of his last 11 games, and is averaging 24.3 minutes in 15 contests. He has wowed fans with several spectacular buckets, most notably in the New Orleans home opener against Houston, and vs. Minnesota at the Ford Center. As the Hornets’ sixth man, and most consistent contributor off the bench early in the season, Bobby has electrified the Hornets and provided the energy he was brought in to supply when spelling, and often playing alongside, guard Chris Paul.
♫ "Don't ever compare me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced, competition's payin' the price!" ♫
The Hornets are anticipating that Jackson’s play this year ceases labels such as “injury-prone.” If that happens, he will be lobbying for a second NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Only two people have successfully captured this award twice in their career. They are Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics (1983-84 and 1984-85) and Detlef Schrempf of the Indiana Pacers (1990-91 and 1991-92).
Interestingly, Jackson says that the Sixth Man of the Year race is sometimes unfair, because many of the players he competes against for the award play far more minutes.
“I believe that if you are playing 30 or more minutes, you are not (the conventional meaning of) a sixth man,” Jackson says. “A sixth man (plays) between 20 and 26 minutes.
“There are a lot of guys out there that play hard off of the bench like me,” continues Jackson, before listing some of the NBA’s premier backup guards. “There is Antonio Daniels, Ben Gordon, Carlos Arroyo, Jose Calderon and Earl Boykins.”
Out of those aforementioned players, only Arroyo (19.1 minutes per game), Daniels (26.0 mpg), and Boykins (23.9) fall into the category of what Jackson considers to a sixth man.
♫ "I'm gonna knock you out!!" ♫
The Hornets hope that with help from his teammates, improved team play, and some luck versus the injury bug, that Bobby Jackson does just that, and knocks out the competition.
Tell us what you think: E-mail editor@hornets.com to provide feedback on this article.
