Reggie Jackson is not having a typical year. It all started when he couldn't agree to an extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder after a breakout season. Jackson has not been shy about his desire to start one day and that doesn't seem in the cards with Russell Westbrook ahead of him on the depth chart. So it seemed like this could be his last year in Oklahoma. Then Westbrook went down and he became the temporary starter. But he wasn't content:
Reggie Jackson’s roller coaster year with the Thunder
Reggie Jackson is playing like a legitimate first option for the shorthanded Thunder. But what will happen when he sees his role reduced?
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
“When I said ‘command a team,’ I didn’t mean being a temporary starter or anything like that,” Jackson told reporters after the win over Denver. “So I’ll just try to fill my role while I’m here and when I get back I’m just gonna try and stay healthy and play to the best of my ability.”
Statements like that one seemed to point to a disconnect between Jackson and the franchise. It appeared as if Jackson was vying his time before he could leave while at the same time living his fantasy as alpha dog. That focus on himself didn't sit well with his teammates. Kendrick Perkins even admitted that himself and Serge Ibaka "froze" Jackson out:
“Just let the game come to you,” Perkins said about Jackson. “But with myself and with Serge, we got to do a better job with our body language and leadership skills, because I didn’t like the way I acted in the Brooklyn game as far as my body language toward Reggie. But we know Reggie means well. We support him. He’s one of my good friends off the court. So it’s no harm in that.”
After that game it seemed Jackson got the message and started moving the ball more, like his coach and his teammates wanted him to. And in the process he started putting up fantastic stats. Jackson is averaging 22.4 points, 8.1 assists and four rebounds per game, numbers that have led rival executives to tell Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski "He's a bigger Eric Bledsoe - and probably better."
The discussion about his talent went from being "Bottom line, how much are they willing to pay for Westbrook's backup?" to reports about potential $14 million offer sheets that the Thunder intend to match. All eyes are suddenly on Jackson. But no one puts more pressure on the fourth year guard than himself. After Friday's loss against the Pistons Jackson blamed himself solely for the loss. From Anthony Slater's article in The Oklahoman:
"Anyone who watches the game, Brandon Jennings definitely destroyed Reggie Jackson," a blunt Jackson said postgame. "I lost the matchup and that's why we lost tonight."
"I failed my teammates," he said. "I let them down tonight."
Whether Jackson has internalized the self-flagellating affectations often associated with marquee players -- after all he considers himself to be one -- or truly believes that is his duty to lead a shorthanded Thunder to victory remains unclear. What’s obvious to anyone watching is that the young guard is relishing the bigger role he’s found himself in.
A more confident and aggressive Jackson is proving to be a great asset for this watered down version of the Thunder. In many ways, him embracing the role of leader is their best hope of remaining competitive while Westbrook and Kevin Durant are out. But how will the chemistry be affected when the superstars return and Jackson has to be reined in? Jackson's emergence could catapult OKC to a title or harm the delicate balance of the locker room. It's impossible to tell what will happen.
And it’s because of that unpredictability that the Thunder and especially Jackson are so fun to watch.
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