REGGIE JACKSON
AGE: 26
NBA EXPERIENCE: 5 seasons
BECAME A PISTON: The Pistons traded second-round picks in 2017 and 2019 along with Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin to Oklahoma City on Feb. 19, 2015.
CAREER MILESTONES: Drafted 24th overall in 2011 after his junior season at Boston College by Oklahoma City. Jackson was a rookie when the Thunder lost to Miami in the 2012 NBA Finals. He became an important reserve for the Thunder in his second season and started 36 games for Oklahoma City in his third season when Russell Westbrook missed time with a knee injury.
CAREER ARC: Jackson just completed his first season as a full-time NBA starter, missing only three games – one to illness, one to injury and one, the season finale, when Stan Van Gundy rested all five starters with the playoffs looming. Jackson averaged a career-best 18.8 points and 6.2 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. Jackson’s position, point guard, is arguably its deepest in NBA history, but Jackson had a case to make the All-Star team this season and figures to challenge in coming years.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Jackson tied a Pistons franchise record by scoring 26 points in the fourth quarter of a 40-point performance as the Pistons came from 18 points down in the third quarter to win by 17, outscoring Portland 41-7 over one stretch of the fourth quarter Nov. 8. He scored 39 points and added nine assists in a win over Washington April 8 as the Pistons clinched their first playoff berth since 2009.
2016-17 ROLE: It will be more of the same for Jackson, who’ll open his second season as Stan Van Gundy’s starting point guard. Jackson’s focus will be on improved decision making, in particular making adjustments as teams aggressively double team him on the pick-and-roll play – the heart of Van Gundy’s offense – run in conjunction with Andre Drummond.
CONTRACT STATUS: Jackson signed a five-year contract with the Pistons in July 2015 that runs through the 2019-20 season.