Thunder's Reggie Jackson: 'I'd like to be a starter'
With each coming report, it's becoming more and more apparent that change is afoot in Oklahoma City.
On Sunday, in the Thunder's year-end locker clean-out, guard Reggie Jackson professed his desires to enter the starting line-up going forward:
Jackson: "I'd like to be a starter. I'm not going to lie.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) June 1, 2014
The news is hardly surprising, as just about every player in the league would like to start for their respective team. Jackson got a taste of starting in guard Russell Westbrook's absence mid-season, but was relegated to the bench once Westbrook returned to health, save for a four-game stretch in the playoffs.
However, Jackson's thoughts are pertinent in the wake of comments made by long-time Thunder starting shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha. On Sunday, the unrestricted free-agent Sefolosha stated that he has "no clue" about his future with the franchise.
Sefolosha's comments likely stemmed from Thunder head coach Scott Brooks' decision to start Jackson in his place against the Spurs in the playoffs. Jackson came off the bench in games 1 and 2, before starting the remainder of the series.
Jackson is under contract with the Thunder next season, while Sefolosha may leave in free-agency. If Sefolosha does leave, Jackson would be the in-house favorite to replace him.
The downside for the switch is that it would move would leave the Thunder without a back-up point guard, a position held by Jackson over the past two seasons.
Jackson enjoyed a career year in 2013-14, averaging 13.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game during the regular season.