Former Golden State Warriors wingman Stephen Jackson. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson is reportedly attempting a comeback and could join the Golden State Warriors training camp this summer after two seasons of being away from professional competition.
CBS Sports reported that the 38-year-old former Warriors player "wants to return to playing professional basketball" after he told ESPN's "The Jump" host Rachel Nichols that he contacted Golden State team officials about its possibility.
Jackson last suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers back in the 2013-2014 season and has not appeared in the NBA in the two seasons following that. He only played in nine games, averaging 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in only 11.9 minutes of playing time per game.
Before that he had his second stint with the San Antonio Spurs, the team he had won a championship with back in 2003, playing there for two seasons, albeit in limited minutes as well.
Aside from the Warriors, Clippers, and Spurs, the former Butler Community College standout had played for a number of other teams as well, including the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Bobcats, and Milwaukee Bucks during the course of his 15-year career.
He was once the best player in the Warriors' lineup during the pre-Stephen Curry era, as he averaged a career-high 19.9 points, 3.6 boards, 3.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in 11 games during the 2007 playoffs when they were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Utah Jazz, 4-1.
The report said that Golden State still has two open roster spots left and the Port Arthur, Texas native is looking to snatch one of them next season.
However, Bleacher Report noted that the Warriors "refuted Jackson's claim (of attending the team's upcoming training camp) and said he hasn't been extended an invitation to training camp", citing an anonymous Golden State source.
Nichols herself cleared up afterwards that it was "way too early for official training camp invites" so there is no way that Jackson and the Warriors had already talked to one another.
However, the article said that there would be a couple of advantages for Golden State if ever they decide to sign Jackson again, such as his "passion and selflessness" and a leadership role as he can be "an important voice inside the Warriors' locker room".
