As if the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't have enough problems with the injuries to Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, and I think their concession guy, and balloon animal artist, they've also got a growing chemistry issue. Backup point guard/part-time startings shooting guard Reggie Jackson didn't reach an agreement with OKC on an extension, has made it clear he wants a starting job.
Now the Oklahoman reports that due to his gunning behavior in OKC's Monday-night loss to Brooklyn, big men Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka "froze him out," refusing to pass him the ball.
In the final hours of those failed negotiations, Yahoo! Sports reported that Jackson is determined to find a starting role in restricted free agency next summer. The report went on to say that Jackson could command a salary in the $13 million to $14 million range.
At a shootaround before the Thunder’s home opener last Saturday, Jackson even hinted that he might not call Oklahoma City home for much longer when he said he is “just trying to play my role while I’m here.”
That comment went largely unnoticed by most.
But Jackson already had said enough to turn local supporters into skeptics.
When he finally took the court after missing the first three regular season games due to an ankle injury, Jackson didn’t do himself any favors in the court of public opinion.
He played selfishly at times in his season debut at Brooklyn on Monday, putting on a one-man show and what seemed to be a dribbling exhibition designed to search for his own shot. He finished with a game-high 23 points but took 20 shots. Perry Jones and Serge Ibaka, the next two highest shot takers, had 12 and 11 shot attempts, respectively. Jackson had five assists but committed five fouls and seven turnovers.
Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins grew frustrated with Jackson by the third quarter. Both big men began freezing out their point guard, refusing to pass him the ball to lead the break following defensive rebounds.
After the game, Thunder coach Scott Brooks even publicly criticized Jackson for not moving the ball.
Jackson took responsibility.
Perkins wasn’t proud of his actions, either.
via Oklahoma City Thunder: Reggie Jackson says enough to turn supporters into skeptics | News OK.
The news is doubly bad. Not only does that kind of dynamic threaten to fracture what has been a close locker room without Durant and Westbrook there to lead it, but it means Kendrick Perkins has the ball more. Jackson still got five of his 20 shots up in the third quarter. In their loss later that week to Toronto, Jackson still took 14 shots, but also tabbed 14 assists.
Jackson has proven he's starter-quality but the only way OKC can survive this stretch without their two best players is by playing an efficient, team-centric game. They can't afford agendas right now. You wonder if at some point the Thunder could look to move Jackson before the trade deadline, affording themselves more offensive balance and adding some much needed depth on the wing.
HT: HoopsHype
