Bobby Jackson Press Conference
August 21, 2008

Geoff Petrie’s opening remarks: “Thanks for coming, once again, another beautiful California day. I hope you all join with me in welcoming Bobby Jackson back to the Kings. I know he’s no stranger to many of us. We’re really excited about having him back as a member of the Kings. I can tell you a couple things about Bobby, his pedal to the metal attitude about playing is still there, his work ethic is still there, we’re looking forward to having him come in and add some stability to our team, work with our young guys and just be a general, all-around high energy self. A few more years and a little more mileage, but still the same Bobby.”

Bobby Jackson
“I’m happy to be back here. I’m in a great situation, coming back to a team and organization, and a community that I’m familiar with and happy to be back to. Like Geoff said, I’m here to help this team, veteran leadership, still play the same type of basketball that I’ve been playing, at a high level, teach the younger guys, show them the game, come out and work hard, stay late, that’s the approach I’m going to take with this team. I’m not trying to do too much, but just lead by leadership, lead by my experience in the league, and just be that overall veteran that most teams have. Like I said, not try to do too much. I’ve been in the league for 12 years now, and as a lot of people know, Bobby gets older and get dinged up a little bit, so this season coming in, I do have that high expectation of me being on this team. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. I still feel like I can still play at a high level, a lot of people don’t feel like I can, but that’s what the media’s out there for. I’m going to come in and prove people wrong, just come in and have fun and try to get this team some toughness and on the right track, but overall, leadership. Just have fun throughout the season.”

On what he’s heard from Kings fans since returning to the Kings:
“Good things. I’ve heard only all good things. I still live here, so people still see me around town, and it’s been easy. People are happy that I’m back. I hope that they don’t think I’m going to be the Superman, but I can tell you that I’m going to continue to play hard, I’m going to get the guys to play hard, and we will be a product on the court that is going to play hard and there’s going to be toughness and we’re going to compete every night.”

On his transition to playing on a team with younger players:
“It’s not hard for me because I’ve always been the type of guy that steps in and mentors people. If it’s younger people or older people, giving the right advice, just try to show them the light, and show them what it takes to be a consummate professional. I think that is in this league, that’s what you have to be, a consummate professional. You have to come in, work hard, respect your elders, but number one, respect the game. That’s what I try to tell the young guys, and even some veterans don’t know that, so that’s what I try to tell them. Some of the times it works.”

On how surreal it is to be back in Sacramento:

“It is. We are still trying to get a house together. It’s a joy just to be back into your house where you can lay In your own bed and you don’t have to rent anything, you know you’re safe, and your kids are happy, your family is happy, your wife is happy, everything is still like the first day I came here. I can’t believe that I’m back here in a Kings jersey. But in the NBA, you never know what’s going to happen.”