Former San Antonio Spurs forward Stephen Jackson. (Photo : Getty Images)
Former NBA players Stephen Jackson had recently claimed that All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo are currently recruiting him to come back to the league and join them with the Chicago Bulls next season.
In an interview with HoopsHype, the 38-year-old wingman professed that Butler and Rondo are "calling" him for the last few months to try and recruit him to play for the Bulls in 2016-2017.
Jackson also claimed that he is healthy and he has "two more years of basketball" left in him. He had been busy keeping himself in shape by working out and playing five-on-five basketball in amateur leagues as well. He also had recently posted a video of him playing competitively in an unknown league in his social media account.
"Well, actually not a lot of people know that Jimmy has been calling me. We've been talking for like three months now. Even (Rajon) Rondo has been calling me, they really want me on the Bulls team," said Jackson.
"I've been talking to a lot of guys, because guys know what I bring. There's not many guys like me. There's probably one or two guys in the NBA like me that can play both ways and don't mind really shutting the guy down," he continued.
"I'm a winner, I've been in the playoffs many years. Guys know I'm a great teammate, Tim Duncan called me the ultimate teammate. I know how to play good for the guy next to me. I'm getting calls and I will be ready and that's the biggest part," Jackson added.
Fansided reported that if Chicago will actually give Jackson a training camp invite (unlike the Golden State Warriors) this summer, then he may actually make the team because the Bulls' current backcourt composed of Butler, Rondo, and another ageing veteran, Dwyane Wade, is "thin" and would need reinforcements.
Earning playing time would be an "uphill battle" for the former San Antonio Spurs champion, though, as the aforementioned guard trio is expected to "play over 30 minutes per game", the report said.
Jackson last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013-2014. He only appeared in nine games, all coming off the bench, and had averaged 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists, which are all career-lows for the 14-year veteran.
