Bobby Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for over a decade. He was born on March 13, 1973, in East Spencer, North Carolina, and attended Salisbury High School, where he played basketball. Jackson then went on to play college basketball at Western Nebraska Community College and the University of Minnesota.
Jackson was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1997 NBA draft but was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets. He played for the Nuggets for one season before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he spent the next four seasons. During his time with the Timberwolves, Jackson established himself as a valuable player off the bench, providing energy and scoring punch.
In 2000, Jackson won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, becoming the first player in Timberwolves history to win the award. He averaged 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game that season. Jackson's best season with the Timberwolves came in 2002-03 when he averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.
After his time with the Timberwolves, Jackson played for several other NBA teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, and Houston Rockets. He was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, including point guard, shooting guard, and small forward.
Jackson's best season with the Kings came in 2003-04 when he averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He helped lead the Kings to the Western Conference Finals that season, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion, the Los Angeles Lakers.
In total, Jackson played in 755 NBA games, averaging 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He was known for his tenacity on defense and his ability to score in a variety of ways, including from beyond the arc.
After retiring from the NBA, Jackson went on to become a coach. He served as an assistant coach for several NBA teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers. In 2018, he was named the head coach of the Big3 basketball league's Killer 3s team.
In conclusion, Bobby Jackson had a successful NBA career, playing for over a decade and establishing himself as a valuable player off the bench. He was known for his versatility, tenacity on defense, and ability to score in a variety of ways. After retiring from the NBA, Jackson went on to become a coach, continuing his involvement in the sport he loves.
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