The Detroit Pistons acquired Reggie Jackson from the Oklahoma City Thunder at Thursday’s trade deadline, and president and head coach Stan Van Gundy said that he’s optimistic they’ve found their point guard of the future.
“We wouldn’t have made the move we did if we didn’t feel ready to make it a long-term commitment,” Van Gundy said Friday. “There’s no guarantees. He’s a (restricted free agent). We know we can keep him through next year no matter what he does, but we feel good about making a long-term commitment to him and hopefully he’ll feel real comfortable making a long-term commitment here and we’ll get it done.”
“He’s got great confidence,” Van Gundy said. “I think he thinks he’s as good as anyone. You’ve got to believe that and I think that’s why even two years ago, when he was only 22, he was playing well in playoff games. He’s got great ability and he’s got great faith in that ability and you’ve got to have that. I think he knows he belongs and so do we. That’s why we’re excited about the move.”
It says a lot about how the Pistons feel about Jackson, and even more about the future of Brandon Jennings in Motown as well.
Jackson says Van Gundy told him he was the point guard of the future.
“You’re my point guard,” the president and coach of the Pistons said, and soon they hung up, and Reggie Jackson crumpled and started to sob. He couldn’t stop. He cried and cried and cried. And, now, 24 hours later, Jackson was on the phone with a reporter, and it was happening again.