Re: Bobby Jackson Q&A <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Eichenhofer: How much are you looking forward to staging a Sacramento ?reunion? with your old teammate, Peja Stojakovic? Are you guys planning to bring back some of those trademark give-and-go plays and backdoor cuts for layups that were staples of the Kings? offense?Jackson: [smiles] You know, I?m really looking forward to it. We talked a little bit in Memphis last season when he came there to play with Indiana. It?s going to be pretty special, because he knows my game and I know his game. I already know what he?s going to do on the court before he does it. Being a point guard, my thing now is that I have to learn what everyone else on the team does and where their strong points are on the court. I?m looking forward to reuniting with him. We were close (friends) in Sacramento, and I think we?re going to be even closer when training camp starts.Eichenhofer: What are your thoughts on the Hornets? style of play? It seems like it?s similar to what you were accustomed to in Sacramento, especially in contrast to the slowdown game you and the Grizzlies played in Memphis last season. Also, do you think the quality of shots you?re going to get in this offense will be different than what you saw with the Grizzlies, who used a stationary offense with more post-ups?Jackson: Oh yeah. That?s exactly what (the offense) was (in Memphis). That?s not my game; it?s actually my weakness. I?m not a guard who can just throw the ball in the paint, then go spot up in the corner ? even though I shot my best 3-point percentage last season? but I think that (career-high percentage) just came from working hard. The style of play here is going to help me, because I like to get out and attack the basket, and it will allow me get back to the type of basketball I was playing in Sacramento. I think the style of play is really going to benefit Peja and myself.Eichenhofer: Last season you played in 71 games with Memphis, the most for you in a single season since 2001-02. Is this the best you?ve felt physically in a few years? You are known as one of the toughest competitors in the league ? do you see your all-out play as being part of the reason for some of your injuries, or has it been bad luck?Jackson: I feel very good. The three years before last season were real tough because of the type of injuries I had. I tore a ligament in my wrist, had an abdominal strain and tear ? those kinds of injuries you can?t do anything about, except let them heal. And those were injuries that take about six months to heal, and I didn?t have (the luxury of being able to sit out) six months (during the season). That was the frustrating thing, but it could have happened to anybody.It was a combination of bad luck and how hard I play, and not knowing (physical limits). That was my biggest learning curve last year, not overdoing it. Sometimes you don?t have to overdo it, but that?s the only way I know how to play, is going all-out, dive for loose balls, attack the basket, go rebound. I grew up playing basketball on the playgrounds that way. But as I get older, I?ve got to watch what I do and how I approach the game. But I was happy that I stayed pretty much healthy last season.Eichenhofer: You once dove into the stands in Sacramento during a playoff game and got an unexpected kiss on the head from a female fan. Kings fans were also known to bring ?I Love Bobby Jackson? signs to games. What was the experience like for you with the fans in Sacramento?Jackson: That was a wonderful experience. That?s kind of what I see from (the fans in) Oklahoma City. When I came here to play last season, the fans were loud, they showed support, they came early to the game. That?s how it was in Sacramento. Both organizations are kind of comparable. They?re both (based in) smaller cities, both have cows and a lot of land [smiles], and only one professional team. I think that?s why the fans gravitate toward the players. But you have to put a good product out on the court for the fans to come out.Eichenhofer: For Hornets fans who may not know much about you, you didn?t play organized basketball until your sophomore year of high school. You actually did not get recruited much by Division I schools out of high school and began your college career at Western Nebraska Community College. What was playing there like?Jackson: I always played basketball, but never organized ball until 10th grade. I always played on the playground. I was pretty good; I just thought playing on the playground was better than playing organized. Western Nebraska was kind of like it is here (in Oklahoma), but that was very small. Coming from North Carolina, which is also farmland and a lot of open space, it?s (similar to N.C.). But I can adjust to anything. It doesn?t matter where I go.Eichenhofer: Why did you choose uniform No. 8?Jackson: Well, I went right down the list of numbers and everything I wanted was taken. No. 24 is my number [Desmond Mason already had the number], so I just did two times four equals eight. That?s how I picked it.Eichenhofer: There was a bit of a ?controversy? last week at your annual summer charity game in North Carolina, when the referees credited you with a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, even though many in attendance said the shot was actually attempted after the buzzer. Be honest, did you get the shot off in time?Jackson: You know what? It was after the buzzer [grins]. There were .7 seconds left, and I was standing almost at halfcourt. (NBA point guard) Jeff McInnis was so upset, because he was on the other team and no one was guarding me. I dribbled up ? they held the clock a little bit and didn?t start it right away ? and let the shot go and it went in. That was kind of a ?home-court advantage? for me [laughs].Eichenhofer: Is it also true that your official signing was delayed a little bit due to your basketball camp that you host in your hometown of Salisbury, N.C.?Jackson: Yes. This was my 11th year doing it. We have a golf tournament, a basketball camp and an All-Star game. I wanted to get (the official signing with the Hornets) done, but I knew my obligations were there first. I?m ready to get back to playing basketball. I haven?t played this summer because I wanted to sign my deal. I didn?t want to get hurt and be out of a contract. Now I?m ready to get back to doing the things I?m capable of doing on the court.</div>
