Jackson hoping for fresh start in Detroit…
Former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson has revealed that he grew tired of being made the scapegoat when things didn’t go to plan at the franchise.
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Jackson made no secret of his desire to have a more prominent role in Oklahoma City, but as it became clear that he wouldn’t sign an extension and that Dion Waiters’ arrival spelled further trouble, he wanted out of the franchise.
While he will now have that responsibility in Detroit, he has insisted that he faced the brunt of the blame for things at the Thunder when it wasn’t necessarily down to him and it was almost forced upon him to make the decision to move on.
Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook barely seemed disheartened by his exit, but he has now shared his side of the story and revealed the level of frustration that he felt.
“I wasn’t always perfect, nor was the situation, but I became the brunt of the blame there. Everything bad that happened, I was the scapegoat. I’m taking all this blame, and I’m wondering: ‘How am I supposed to change it all here, make an impact, in eight minutes a game?’ Everybody is jumping down my neck, and it gets annoying when I’m supposed to have this great impact playing so little this season,” Jackson said, according to Yahoo Sports.
“All of a sudden, I’m the bad locker room guy. I’m the problem…”
“The whole time, I was honest. I wanted to start. And then, I became the problem in the locker room to people who have never been in our locker room. …I mean, come on.”
The 24-year-old certainly makes valid points in his defence of himself, as essentially all he wanted was to play a more influential role for the Thunder and ultimately he was denied the opportunity to make a real impression.
Nevertheless, having now moved on, it is hoped that both parties find success apart although it is perhaps evident that the bitterness between them will continue to exist for some time.
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