Jefferson Sees Best Years Ahead

By Matt McQueeny, NJNets.com
October 26, 2007

Could you imagine if Nets point guard Jason Kidd all-of-the-sudden lost his anticipation or his ability to pass the ball? What would happen if his greatest assets, the tools of his trade, were very quickly taken away from him?

To Nets forward Richard Jefferson, that basically happened to him at the start of last season. A right ankle injury robbed him of one of his greatest assets - “explosion” - and it basically happened overnight.

“It’s just weird when you play and have something pretty much since you were 16 years-old and then at 26 years-old you don’t have it. You know, I was able to play and it was deceptive where it was like some days I could go out there and run and jump, some days I could just run, and then some days I couldn’t do either. And it was frustrating because I tried to be as consistent as I could for my team, but because of that I couldn’t.”

In January, he decided to pursue surgery. He missed 18 games rehabilitating his ankle after the surgery and did not play in 27 total games in 2006-07.

His return to health at the end of the season, however, was a major factor in the Nets positive finish and run into the second round of the playoffs.

“Richard’s a very, very versatile player,” said Head Coach Lawrence Frank. “We’ve talked about this a bunch but we know how he impacts winning…His versatility – being able to play two (shooting guard), three (small forward), or four (power forward) – makes us a better team.”

Though he had never taken his inborn ability for granted, he is happy and relieved to have his explosion back and to be playing again with his full complement of athletic abilities.

“It’s very quick how people forget what you’re capable of doing,” said the seven-year pro.

“It’s great to have that again. I always knew it was a blessing. Just like 'JKidd' at the point guard. It’s like if 'JKidd' were to lose his anticipation or his passing ability. You never know. It’s little bitty changes. What hurt me so much is that it pretty much happened over night. In the playoffs I was able to run and jump and then at the start of the season I really couldn’t explode consistently at all. So, it wasn’t like it was a gradual process or I was 34 and I just got old. It was just like from one year to the next I couldn’t do something that I had been doing most of my career.”

It’s been a career exclusively played with the Nets. In the summer of 2001, Jefferson was drafted by Houston and traded to New Jersey a day before Jason Kidd was acquired. So, like the captain, Jefferson has been a major part of this six-year run of consecutive playoff appearances, four division championships, and two finals appearances. While his role has changed over time – he was a reserve in his rookie season – he has been one of the major players on the team since being inserted in the starting lineup in his second year.

“I think to continue to have guys like Jason Kidd and Jason Collins, who have been here from the very beginning with me; we’ve been through this whole process together. It’s always been a humble beginning because you never came in feeling entitled…Every year if you come in with the sense that you have to prove something, I think that’s when you’re going to accomplish more.”

“I’m happy but I’m not satisfied with my career. I think there are still personal things that I’d like to accomplish. There are still team things that we can obviously accomplish. I’m excited to still be here again in year seven. It’s such a rarity now that players are with teams for an extended period of time. We’ve won four division championships, been to the finals twice, pretty much own every team and playoff record for the Nets. So, I feel happy about what we have accomplished in my tenure here even though I’m glad it’s not done and we have a lot more to accomplish.”

On paper, the Nets this season might have as deep of a team as Jefferson has played on in his time with New Jersey. But six years of NBA experience have taught him at least one critical lesson about things that are penned in ink.

“The one thing I’ve learned is that you never know what can happen. You come into a season last year where the season before we won 49 games, been to the second round of the playoffs, won the division, and then all-of-the-sudden we have a ridiculous amount of injuries and we never really are able to accomplish what we want to. So, this year we have a lot to prove. We’re a team that people think are not going to make the playoffs or be right there on the fringe when that’s never been a reality here. I think only once have we been an eight seed; ever since then, we’ve been a sixth seed or above so we just want to get back to that level where we’re one of the best teams in the conference.”

With a healthy and explosive Jefferson, the Nets are hoping the same.

“I’m not that young pup anymore,” asserts the 27 year-old. “Yeah, I don’t jump probably as high as I used to and I’m not as fast. But you offset that with your knowledge of the game, your experience, you know what to expect, the amount of rest, and all the stuff that you need to get to be successful. I definitely feel that four or five of my best years are still in front of me.”

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