Reggie Jackson carried the Detroit Pistons to victory in the biggest game they’ve played in years, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2009.
When Reggie Jackson was acquired a season ago from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2014-15 NBA trade deadline to be the Detroit Pistons’ franchise point guard, the deal was questioned. When he signed to a five-year $80 million contract this past offseason, the contract was derided as a ludicrous overpay for a player who had never led a team on a full-time basis. Piston president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy’s very sanity was questioned.
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Not only did media and fans question the contract, but players from other teams had problems with it as well. Prime among them was John Wall of the Washington Wizards, who had pointed words about Jackson’s new deal. Wall had an issue with the fact that Jackson was now making the same amount of money he was and plays the same position, without a resume that could match Wall’s own.
According to ESPN, Wall had this to say after Jackson signed his deal: “People talk about me getting $80 million, now you got people getting $85 million that haven’t made the All-Star or anything like that. I guess they came in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in, and they’re good now. Reggie Jackson gets five years, $80 million. I’m getting the same as Reggie Jackson.”
Wall wasn’t wrong. Jackson hasn’t made an All-Star game, and Wall has prettier numbers both this season and over the course of his career. None of that matters now, however, because Reggie Jackson put his team on his back on Friday night and carried the Pistons to victory against Wall’s Wizards in the biggest game they’ve played in years. Not to put too fine a point on it, Jackson’s Pistons are in the playoffs, and the Wizards and John Wall aren’t.
It’s no secret that Jackson has struggled at times this season. His defense isn’t exactly All-NBA level, he’s known to over-dribble the ball and get himself into trouble at times. He’s known to be an emotional player, a fact that wasn’t lost on his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates following a big victory over them recently.
On Friday, all of that went out the window as he scored 39 points on 14-of-20 from the floor and hit four of his five three pointers. Whenever the Wizards made a run, particularly late in the third quarter and early in the fourth when the Wizards came back from a big deficit to take a one point lead, Jackson took over and the Pistons would retake or extend their lead.
Jackson has now joined the likes of Isiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups, a short list of point guards who have led the Pistons to the playoffs (no, Allen Iverson doesn’t count) in the modern era, and while it’s sacrilegious to put together a newcomer who still has a lot to prove and improve upon in a list with a Hall of Famer and a possible future Hall of Famer, Jackson has already exceeded the expectations placed on him and his team this season.
While the Pistons may likely be simple first-round fodder for either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Toronto Raptors, significant progress has been made this season. With all the growing pains that this team has experienced this season, this winning record and playoff berth combined are far more than any fan could have reasonably hoped for to start the season.
Whatever may happen in the playoffs, bring them on. Reggie Jackson and his Pistons are ready.