Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson could taste the win. With a few seconds remaining in Tuesday night’s game versus his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jackson began to implore the home crowd to join him in celebrating the victory. This one meant a little more to Jackson. As you may remember, Jackson and the Thunder had a nasty break up last year.
His extra enthusiastic celebration did not sit well with a few of his former teammates. Nick Collison yelled at Jackson from the bench and Steven Adams and Jackson got into it during a stoppage in play. After the game Adams said:
Just surprised, that’s all. Says a lot about him. Keep it up here, though. For next time.
To nobody’s surprise, Russell Westbrook, had the biggest issue with the Jackson celebration. In the postgame locker room scrum when asked about Jackson, Westbrook said:
He wasn’t changing nothing for us. Obviously he didn’t want to be here. He’s at a better spot. He’s not doing too much of a difference if you ask me. He’s gonna stay over in Detroit. We gonna stay over here and we’ll see them next season.
Westbrook’s full response in the video below, contains strong language.
Russell Westbrook took exception to the way Reggie Jacksom celebrated (bad words ahead): pic.twitter.com/9BUt4R0kta
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 30, 2016
In Jackson’s defense, this game was big for the Pistons. The win moved them up to the seventh seed in the East as they fight to secure a playoff berth. But, if you think Jackson didn’t love sticking it to his former team, you underestimate the power of holding a grudge.