Hoping for another chance
Most professional basketball players consider talking to reporters as part of the job. Some think it's a necessary evil, especially after a close loss or a bad day off the court. Some seem to enjoy the give-and-take, especially with the men and women with whom they are familiar.
Last week, I went up to Boise to do a a couple of stories -- one on the NBA Developmental League and one on the Broncomania surrounding Boise State's approaching game in the Fiesta Bowl. (It was a beauty, wasn't it?)
After the D-League game between Idaho and Dakota, I talked to three players: former Jazz point guard Randy Livingston, ex-Weber State center Lance Allred and former NBA lottery pick Luke Jackson. All three were extremely helpful. Jackson, in fact, was about as pleasant to talk to as any player I've been around. During a 10-minute conversation, we covered a lot of ground, including:
-- Oregon's 60-58 loss to Utah in the first-round of the 2003 NCAA tournament in Nashville, which was surprising since the Ducks were led by two future first-round picks (Luke Ridnour and Jackson) and the Utes played without Britton Johnsen, who had mono.
-- Jackson's visit to Utah prior to the 2004 draft. The Jazz liked him, except Jackson had a promise that Cleveland would take him at No. 10. Because of that promise, Jackson did not work out for the Jazz. But he met with vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor and some of the coaches, just in case Utah was able to pull off a trade and move into the top 10. The Jazz didn't, of course, and ended up taking Kris Humphries with the 14th pick.
Mostly, however, I could tell that Jackson wanted me to know -- and to get the word out -- that his surgically-repaired back is "100 percent" and that he's ready for another shot in the NBA.
He even volunteered how much he would enjoy playing for a no-nonsense coach like the Jazz's Jerry Sloan, and suggested he could fill a Jeff Hornacek-like role for Utah. Jackson scored 15 points in a 111-105 loss to Dakota -- his third game in the D-League.
Aside from looking a little rusty after playing in only 46 NBA games in two seasons, he flashed the smooth jumper and basketball instincts that made him a lottery pick. If his back holds up, I'm guessing he'll get another chance.
— Steve Luhm
Last week, I went up to Boise to do a a couple of stories -- one on the NBA Developmental League and one on the Broncomania surrounding Boise State's approaching game in the Fiesta Bowl. (It was a beauty, wasn't it?)
After the D-League game between Idaho and Dakota, I talked to three players: former Jazz point guard Randy Livingston, ex-Weber State center Lance Allred and former NBA lottery pick Luke Jackson. All three were extremely helpful. Jackson, in fact, was about as pleasant to talk to as any player I've been around. During a 10-minute conversation, we covered a lot of ground, including:
-- Oregon's 60-58 loss to Utah in the first-round of the 2003 NCAA tournament in Nashville, which was surprising since the Ducks were led by two future first-round picks (Luke Ridnour and Jackson) and the Utes played without Britton Johnsen, who had mono.
-- Jackson's visit to Utah prior to the 2004 draft. The Jazz liked him, except Jackson had a promise that Cleveland would take him at No. 10. Because of that promise, Jackson did not work out for the Jazz. But he met with vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor and some of the coaches, just in case Utah was able to pull off a trade and move into the top 10. The Jazz didn't, of course, and ended up taking Kris Humphries with the 14th pick.
Mostly, however, I could tell that Jackson wanted me to know -- and to get the word out -- that his surgically-repaired back is "100 percent" and that he's ready for another shot in the NBA.
He even volunteered how much he would enjoy playing for a no-nonsense coach like the Jazz's Jerry Sloan, and suggested he could fill a Jeff Hornacek-like role for Utah. Jackson scored 15 points in a 111-105 loss to Dakota -- his third game in the D-League.
Aside from looking a little rusty after playing in only 46 NBA games in two seasons, he flashed the smooth jumper and basketball instincts that made him a lottery pick. If his back holds up, I'm guessing he'll get another chance.
— Steve Luhm
9:25 AM
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