NBA Superlatives: Marc Jackson
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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 3: Cedric Simmons (L) and Marc Jackson of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets runs drills during opening day of NBA training camp on October 3, 2006 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Layne Murdoch/Getty Images/NBAE
Marc Jackson joined the Hornets midway through the 2005-06 season, the result of a trade with New Jersey. One of the team’s most colorful personalities, the 31-year-old is well-known for his talkative ways on the court and his invaluable contributions off the bench.
Now in his seventh season in the NBA, the 6-foot-10 forward/center cheerfully fielded Hornets.com’s array of questions in this edition of NBA Superlatives, though he seemed a bit concerned about the consequences of answering the final query.
Most memorable moment in the NBA: “Coming into the league and playing well. I came to the NBA after being a second-round draft pick and spending three years overseas. It was great for me to have a really good opportunity to contribute as a rookie with the Golden State Warriors [Jackson made the All-Rookie first team in 2000-01, averaging a career-high 13.2 points].”
Most memorable dunk in the NBA: “My rookie year I had one over Kevin Garnett, when Minnesota came to Golden State. I got him on a drop-step move. That’s the best one I’ve had.”
Most embarrassing moment in the NBA: “(Detroit forward) Tayshaun Prince crossed me over really bad one time two years ago when I was with Philadelphia. REAL bad. My knees buckled.”
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: “How fast the game was. It was so much faster than what I’d seen in Europe and in college.”
Toughest player to face at his position: Shaquille O’Neal. “When he wants to go at you, he is so powerful.”
Most underrated player in the NBA: New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson, a former teammate of Jackson’s with the Nets. “He’s very, very underrated. Even before Vince Carter got there, (Jefferson) did so much for them to help them get to the NBA Finals (twice). He still didn’t get a lot of credit. It was still all about Jason Kidd; people didn’t really talk about Richard at all. He has such a big influence on that team.”
Favorite road arena: Dallas. “I love playing there. I love their crowd and love playing against their team and Dirk (Nowitzki).”
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Philadelphia. “Because that’s my hometown.”
Best trash-talker in the NBA: “Other than myself? [grins] I have to go with Kobe Bryant. He gets on you. He’s like Michael Jordan was, in that he talks in a way that the fans and the media don’t see it. Myself, when I (trash-talk) I like to get pretty hyped and pretty personal, and get under your skin.”
Best heckler story: “When I was with the Sixers we were playing in New York a couple years ago. Some hecklers have certain guys that they pick out, and I guess it was my turn this time. From the moment I came out to the court, he was like ‘Hey Jackson, you stink! You are the worst player EVER and I don’t know why you are even here. Every time you get the ball, we just want to turn on our backs! Jackson, you are horrible!’
He was just killing me. But by the middle of the third quarter of that game, I almost had a triple-double, with 20-something points. So all of the sudden this heckler goes, ‘Jackson, I’m so sorry. You are great, man! You can really play this game.’ When he said that, he had the whole Madison Square Garden laughing."
Change he’d make if he were commissioner: “Are you trying to get me fined, man? [laughs] David Stern’s gonna fine me, dog! [grins] I would say they should stop trying to add a new rule every year… hey, that’s $10,000 you just cost me right there!” [laughs]
Now in his seventh season in the NBA, the 6-foot-10 forward/center cheerfully fielded Hornets.com’s array of questions in this edition of NBA Superlatives, though he seemed a bit concerned about the consequences of answering the final query.
Most memorable moment in the NBA: “Coming into the league and playing well. I came to the NBA after being a second-round draft pick and spending three years overseas. It was great for me to have a really good opportunity to contribute as a rookie with the Golden State Warriors [Jackson made the All-Rookie first team in 2000-01, averaging a career-high 13.2 points].”
Most memorable dunk in the NBA: “My rookie year I had one over Kevin Garnett, when Minnesota came to Golden State. I got him on a drop-step move. That’s the best one I’ve had.”
Most embarrassing moment in the NBA: “(Detroit forward) Tayshaun Prince crossed me over really bad one time two years ago when I was with Philadelphia. REAL bad. My knees buckled.”
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: “How fast the game was. It was so much faster than what I’d seen in Europe and in college.”
Toughest player to face at his position: Shaquille O’Neal. “When he wants to go at you, he is so powerful.”
Most underrated player in the NBA: New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson, a former teammate of Jackson’s with the Nets. “He’s very, very underrated. Even before Vince Carter got there, (Jefferson) did so much for them to help them get to the NBA Finals (twice). He still didn’t get a lot of credit. It was still all about Jason Kidd; people didn’t really talk about Richard at all. He has such a big influence on that team.”
Favorite road arena: Dallas. “I love playing there. I love their crowd and love playing against their team and Dirk (Nowitzki).”
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Philadelphia. “Because that’s my hometown.”
Best trash-talker in the NBA: “Other than myself? [grins] I have to go with Kobe Bryant. He gets on you. He’s like Michael Jordan was, in that he talks in a way that the fans and the media don’t see it. Myself, when I (trash-talk) I like to get pretty hyped and pretty personal, and get under your skin.”
Best heckler story: “When I was with the Sixers we were playing in New York a couple years ago. Some hecklers have certain guys that they pick out, and I guess it was my turn this time. From the moment I came out to the court, he was like ‘Hey Jackson, you stink! You are the worst player EVER and I don’t know why you are even here. Every time you get the ball, we just want to turn on our backs! Jackson, you are horrible!’
He was just killing me. But by the middle of the third quarter of that game, I almost had a triple-double, with 20-something points. So all of the sudden this heckler goes, ‘Jackson, I’m so sorry. You are great, man! You can really play this game.’ When he said that, he had the whole Madison Square Garden laughing."
Change he’d make if he were commissioner: “Are you trying to get me fined, man? [laughs] David Stern’s gonna fine me, dog! [grins] I would say they should stop trying to add a new rule every year… hey, that’s $10,000 you just cost me right there!” [laughs]
