Mark Jackson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American
professional basketball
player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors
. He played point guard
for the New York Knicks
, Indiana Pacers
, Los Angeles Clippers
, Denver Nuggets
, Toronto Raptors
, Utah Jazz
, and Houston Rockets
in the NBA
in a career spanning from 1987 to 2004. Jackson has also worked as a commentator for ESPN
and ABC
alongside his former coach Jeff Van Gundy
and play-by-play man Mike Breen
. He was previously an NBA analyst for The YES Network
's New Jersey Nets
games and a member of the St. John's University mens basketball team in the 1980's.
, New York
to an American father and Dominican mother. Jackson was regarded as one of the nation's elite point guards while attending Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
in Brooklyn
under coach Patrick Quigley. Jackson gained a reputation as a streetballer in New York and a college hoops star at St. John's University. While at St. John's, he played alongside Chris Mullin
for one year. He credits Mullin with teaching him the importance of rigorous practice work in the gym.
by the New York Knicks
. He teamed with Patrick Ewing
and Charles Oakley
to turn the Knicks into a prime playoff
team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, before the Knicks peaked and became regular playoff contenders, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992.
Jackson had a steady career with the Knicks, most notably under coach Rick Pitino
, averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assist
s per game in his rookie season, earning him the 1988
Rookie of the Year award
, the lowest overall draft pick to win the award since Woody Sauldsberry
in 1958
. He is the only non-lottery
pick to have won the award since the introduction of the system in 1985.
In 1989, Jackson had another promising season for the Knicks, teaming with Ewing to lead them to the Atlantic Division title and the number three seed in the east (behind Detroit and Cleveland), and making his lone All-Star Game appearance. After sweeping Charles Barkley
's Philadelphia team in the opening round, the Knicks faced the upstart Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan
, in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Noteworthy in the series was near the end of game two, where Jackson en route to a fast break layup in the fourth quarter looked back and stuck out his tongue at Jordan before finishing the layup; Jordan responded with a 40+ PPG average the remainder of the series, and led Chicago to a 4-2 series victory. Following a contract extension prior to the 1990 season, Jackson began to lose his All-Star form; the loss of Pitino (who left to coach the University of Kentucky) and starting the season out of shape were key factors. Consequently, he began to face stiff competition from backup guard Rod Strickland
, to the point where in their decisive first round game five against Larry Bird
, Kevin McHale
, Robert Parish
, Dennis Johnson
and the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden, Knick coach Stu Jackson
decided to bench Mark Jackson for the entire game; New York went on to defeat Boston to advance to the second round, where they lost to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons
in five games.
After the 1991-92 season
, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
, a trade that saw Charles Smith
and Doc Rivers
go to the Knicks. While with the Clippers, Jackson teamed with Danny Manning
, Ron Harper
(known informally as "Harp") and head coach Larry Brown
to lead the Clippers to two of their few playoff appearances of the 1990s (a feat that would not be repeated until 1997 and 2006).
Jackson later was traded to the Indiana Pacers
for point guard Pooh Richardson
, where he teamed with Reggie Miller
, Rik Smits
, Antonio Davis
, and Dale Davis
for six seasons to make the Indiana Pacers a strong contender. Jackson was traded to the Denver Nuggets
before the 1996–97 NBA season started for Jalen Rose
. This trade was a disaster for the Pacers, as the Pacers fell in 10th place in the East halfway through the season and out of the playoff race. Feeling the heat, Pacers GM Donnie Walsh
re-traded for Jackson at the deadline, giving up Vincent Askew
, Eddie Johnson and a couple of 2nd round picks. The return of Jackson sparked the Pacers, but they still missed the playoffs for the only time in the last decade and a half. Jackson would eventually appear in his only NBA Finals as the Pacers' starting point guard in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers
in six games.
Jackson would leave the Pacers that offseason for the Toronto Raptors
, who needed a floor general and had extra money to spend with the departure of Tracy McGrady earlier that offseason. Jackson would only play 54 games for the Raptors before being traded at the deadline back to the Knicks. The return was short lived, as the Knicks were knocked out of the playoffs by the Raptors.
In the offseason, he was involved in a trade back to the Nuggets, where he was immediately waived. Jackson played for the Utah Jazz
for the 02-03 season as John Stockton
's backup. It was this season that Jackson moved into second place on the list of all time assists leaders behind his teammate Stockton. Jackson would play every single game that season without starting one before moving on as a member of the Houston Rockets
in 2004. Jackson only played in 42 games as a Rocket and, experiencing a large drop off in skills, finished his career at season's end.
He is currently ranked 13th on the NBA all-time games list (1,296), 26th on the all-time minutes played list (39,121), 77th on the all-time three-point field goal
s made list (734), 65th on the all-time 3-point field goal attempts list (2,213), 3rd on the all-time assists list (10,323) and 23rd on the all-time steals list (1,608). Jackson never achieved great individual success; despite winning Rookie of the Year in 1988, he only made one All-Star appearance in his career (1989).
Jackson is also notable for prompting an NBA rule change. In response to Jackson's penchant for backing down opposing point guards in the post for 15 or more seconds at a time, the league instituted the Five-second rule (basketball)
, sometimes referred to as the "Mark Jackson Rule," prohibiting an offensive player from dribbling with his back to the basket for more than 5 consecutive seconds when below the free throw line.
Jackson is also known around the NBA for perfecting as well as increasing popularity of the "tear drop" shot, which he used often to shoot over much larger NBA defenders. The basketball shooting technique called "tear drop" is also referred to as the floater. Both of them are very descriptive names in that the basketball shot seems to "float" over the defender and drop into the hoop so lightly as if it were a drop of tears. It is an alternate basketball shooting move in a lay up where you take the step-and-a-half early and while jumping forward, you shoot the basketball over your defender before he jumps.
on YES Network
, mostly with Marv Albert
. He has also worked as an analyst for ABC
, teaming with Mike Breen
and former coach Jeff Van Gundy
on these telecasts.
At the end of the 2008 NBA season, Jackson unexpectedly quit his position with the YES Network. This move fueled speculation that Jackson would be replacing Isiah Thomas as coach of the New York Knicks. However, Jackson claimed that the rumors were untrue and the decision was based on desire to stop commuting from Los Angeles and the fact that he continued to have a contract with ABC. Rumors however, kept swirling around of Jackson returning to NY as coach of the failing New York Knicks. Those rumors, however, were dispelled with the Knicks' hiring of former Phoenix Suns
head coach Mike D'Antoni
.
Mark Jackson was hired as head coach of the Golden State Warriors on June 6, 2011.
.
He was the older brother of And 1
streetballer Troy Jackson
, better known as "Escalade". Troy Jackson died on February 20, 2011 at the age of 35. Jackson is also a licensed minister.
He and his wife pastor True Love Worship Center International in Van Nuys, California.
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 80 || 39.6 || .432 || .254 || .774 || 4.8 || 10.6 || 2.5 || .1 || 13.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 72 || 72 || 34.4 || .467 || .338 || .698 || 4.7 || 8.6 || 1.9 || .1 || 16.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 69 || 29.6 || .437 || .267 || .727 || 3.9 || 7.4 || 1.3 || .0 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 72 || 21 || 22.2 || .492 || .255 || .731 || 2.7 || 6.3 || .8 || .1 || 8.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 81 || 81 || 30.4 || .491 || .256 || .770 || 3.8 || 8.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
| 82 || 81 || 38.0 || .486 || .268 || .803 || 4.7 || 8.8 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
| 79 || 79 || 34.3 || .452 || .283 || .791 || 4.4 || 8.6 || 1.5 || .1 || 10.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 82 || 67 || 29.3 || .422 || .310 || .778 || 3.7 || 7.5 || 1.3 || .2 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 81 || 81 || 32.6 || .473 || .430 || .785 || 3.8 || 7.8 || 1.2 || .1 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Denver
| 52 || 52 || 38.5 || .425 || .397 || .801 || 5.2 || 12.3 || 1.0 || .2 || 10.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1996–97
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 30 || 30 || 35.1 || .427 || .316 || .766 || 4.1 || 9.8 || 1.5 || .1 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 82 || 82 || 29.4 || .416 || .314 || .761 || 3.9 || 8.7 || 1.0 || .0 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 49 || 49 || 28.2 || .419 || .311 || .823 || 3.8 || 7.9 || .9 || .1 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 81 || 81 || 27.0 || .432 || .403 || .806 || 3.7 || 8.0 || .9 || .1 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
| 54 || 54 || 33.4 || .422 || .345 || .842 || 3.4 || 9.2 || 1.2 || .1 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 29 || 28 || 27.1 || .411 || .310 || .529 || 4.1 || 5.6 || .7 || .0 || 5.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 81 || 28.9 || .439 || .405 || .791 || 3.8 || 7.4 || .9 || .0 || 8.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Utah
| 82 || 0 || 17.9 || .398 || .284 || .763 || 2.1 || 4.6 || .6 || .0 || 4.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 42 || 3 || 13.7 || .340 || .171 || .718 || 1.7 || 2.8 || .4 || .0 || 2.5
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 1,296 || 1,091 || 30.2 || .447 || .332 || .770 || 3.8 || 8.0 || 1.2 || .1 || 9.6
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| All-Star
| 1 || 0 || 16.0 || .600 || 1.000 || .500 || 2.0 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 9.0
| style="text-align:left;"| 1988
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 3 || – || 42.8 || .367 || .417 || .727 || 4.8 || 9.8 || 2.5 || .0 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1989
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 9 || – || 37.3 || .510 || .393 || .679 || 3.4 || 10.1 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1990
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 9 || – || 9.0 || .419 || .000 || .727 || .6 || 2.3 || .2 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1991
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 3 || 0 || 12.0 || .333 || – || – || .0 || 2.7 || .3 || .3 || .7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1992
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 12 || 12 || 30.7 || .402 || .190 || .815 || 2.3 || 7.2 || .8 || .0 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1993
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
| 5 || 5 || 37.6 || .438 || .500 || .864 || 5.8 || 7.6 || 1.6 || .2 || 15.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1995
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 17 || 17 || 32.5 || .454 || .400 || .739 || 5.2 || 7.1 || .8 || .0 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1996
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 5 || 5 || 37.2 || .353 || .222 || .765 || 5.0 || 6.0 || 1.2 || .0 || 10.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1998
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 16 || 16 || 30.9 || .417 || .378 || .794 || 4.6 || 8.3 || 1.4 || .0 || 9.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1999
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 13 || 13 || 34.7 || .495 || .412 || .714 || 4.5 || 8.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 23 || 23 || 27.6 || .392 || .313 || .903 || 3.7 || 7.7 || .8 || .1 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2001
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 5 || 5 || 31.2 || .500 || .250 || 1.000 || 5.2 || 5.2 || 1.6 || .0 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003
| style="text-align:left;"| Utah
| 5 || 0 || 16.6 || .500 || .556 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 3.2 || .6 || .0 || 7.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 5 || 0 || 7.6 || .167 || .000 || – || .6 || 1.0 || .4 || .0 || .4
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 131 || – || 28.8 || .432 || .345 || .777 || 3.6 || 6.9 || 1.0 || .1 || 9.0
Led the league with a total of 11.4 assists per game. Due to a mid-season trade ended up playing a total of 83 games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He played point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in a career spanning from 1987 to 2004. Jackson has also worked as a commentator for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
alongside his former coach Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...
and play-by-play man Mike Breen
Mike Breen
Michael "Mike" Breen is a play-by-play commentator for the NBA on ABC and the lead commentator for New York Knicks games on the MSG network...
. He was previously an NBA analyst for The YES Network
YES Network
The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network is a New York City-based, regional cable television channel; it broadcasts a variety of sports events, with an emphasis on New York Yankees baseball games, and New Jersey Nets basketball games. YES made its debut on March 19, 2002...
's New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
games and a member of the St. John's University mens basketball team in the 1980's.
Early years
Mark Jackson was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to an American father and Dominican mother. Jackson was regarded as one of the nation's elite point guards while attending Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic Christian Brothers university-preparatory secondary school serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Brooklyn, New York. The school is under the jurisdiction of the Brooklyn diocese.-History:...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
under coach Patrick Quigley. Jackson gained a reputation as a streetballer in New York and a college hoops star at St. John's University. While at St. John's, he played alongside Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin (basketball)
Christopher Paul Mullin is a retired American basketball player and former general manager of the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He has also been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame....
for one year. He credits Mullin with teaching him the importance of rigorous practice work in the gym.
NBA career
Jackson was made the 18th pick of the 1987 NBA Draft1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He teamed with Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
and Charles Oakley
Charles Oakley
Charles Oakley is a retired American professional basketball player and is currently an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association...
to turn the Knicks into a prime playoff
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, before the Knicks peaked and became regular playoff contenders, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992.
Jackson had a steady career with the Knicks, most notably under coach Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
, averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
s per game in his rookie season, earning him the 1988
1987-88 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Mark Jackson, New York Knicks*Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls...
Rookie of the Year award
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
, the lowest overall draft pick to win the award since Woody Sauldsberry
Woody Sauldsberry
Woodrow "Woody" Sauldsberry Jr. was an American National Basketball Association player.Sauldsberry was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana and graduated from Compton Union High School where he was the star of his basketball team and then went on to attend Texas Southern University...
in 1958
1957-58 NBA season
The 1957–58 NBA Season was the 12th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the St. Louis Hawks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
. He is the only non-lottery
NBA Draft Lottery
The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association in which the teams who had missed the playoffs in the previous season, or teams who hold the draft rights of another team that missed the playoffs in the previous season, participate in a lottery process to...
pick to have won the award since the introduction of the system in 1985.
In 1989, Jackson had another promising season for the Knicks, teaming with Ewing to lead them to the Atlantic Division title and the number three seed in the east (behind Detroit and Cleveland), and making his lone All-Star Game appearance. After sweeping Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
's Philadelphia team in the opening round, the Knicks faced the upstart Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Noteworthy in the series was near the end of game two, where Jackson en route to a fast break layup in the fourth quarter looked back and stuck out his tongue at Jordan before finishing the layup; Jordan responded with a 40+ PPG average the remainder of the series, and led Chicago to a 4-2 series victory. Following a contract extension prior to the 1990 season, Jackson began to lose his All-Star form; the loss of Pitino (who left to coach the University of Kentucky) and starting the season out of shape were key factors. Consequently, he began to face stiff competition from backup guard Rod Strickland
Rod Strickland
Rodney "Rod" Strickland is a retired American professional basketball player and currently in an administrative role for the University of Kentucky basketball team under head coach John Calipari. Strickland was formerly the director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis...
, to the point where in their decisive first round game five against Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
, Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
, Robert Parish
Robert Parish
Robert Lee Parish is a retired American basketball center. He was known for his strong defense and jump shooting, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003...
, Dennis Johnson
Dennis Johnson
Dennis Wayne Johnson nicknamed "DJ", was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers...
and the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden, Knick coach Stu Jackson
Stu Jackson
Stuart Wayne Jackson is an American former head coach and current executive in the National Basketball Association. He has coached two different NBA teams: the New York Knicks in 1990 and 1991, and the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997; he also has served as the Grizzlies' general manager...
decided to bench Mark Jackson for the entire game; New York went on to defeat Boston to advance to the second round, where they lost to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in five games.
After the 1991-92 season
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, a trade that saw Charles Smith
Charles D. Smith
Charles Daniel Smith is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.- College career :...
and Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
go to the Knicks. While with the Clippers, Jackson teamed with Danny Manning
Danny Manning
Daniel Ricardo "Danny" Manning is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He is an assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Manning won the National Championship with the Jayhawks in 1988 as a player, and...
, Ron Harper
Ron Harper
Ronald "Ron" Harper is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA. At 6 ft 6 in , his position was shooting guard/point guard.- Collegiate career :...
(known informally as "Harp") and head coach Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
to lead the Clippers to two of their few playoff appearances of the 1990s (a feat that would not be repeated until 1997 and 2006).
Jackson later was traded to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
for point guard Pooh Richardson
Pooh Richardson
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson is an American former National Basketball Association player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first draft pick in franchise history...
, where he teamed with Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
, Rik Smits
Rik Smits
Rik Smits is a retired Dutch professional basketball player who spent his entire professional career with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. The 7'4" center was drafted by the Pacers out of Marist College with the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft...
, Antonio Davis
Antonio Davis
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
, and Dale Davis
Dale Davis (basketball)
Elliott Lydell Davis is a former American professional basketball player who played center and power forward. He is 6'11" and weighs 252 pounds....
for six seasons to make the Indiana Pacers a strong contender. Jackson was traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
before the 1996–97 NBA season started for Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose is a retired American professional basketball player, who currently works as a sports analyst for the sports television network ESPN...
. This trade was a disaster for the Pacers, as the Pacers fell in 10th place in the East halfway through the season and out of the playoff race. Feeling the heat, Pacers GM Donnie Walsh
Donnie Walsh
Joseph Donald Walsh Jr., better known as Donnie Walsh is a former professional basketball coach, and former president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.-Biography:...
re-traded for Jackson at the deadline, giving up Vincent Askew
Vincent Askew
Vincent Jerome Askew is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 1987 NBA Draft...
, Eddie Johnson and a couple of 2nd round picks. The return of Jackson sparked the Pacers, but they still missed the playoffs for the only time in the last decade and a half. Jackson would eventually appear in his only NBA Finals as the Pacers' starting point guard in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in six games.
Jackson would leave the Pacers that offseason for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, who needed a floor general and had extra money to spend with the departure of Tracy McGrady earlier that offseason. Jackson would only play 54 games for the Raptors before being traded at the deadline back to the Knicks. The return was short lived, as the Knicks were knocked out of the playoffs by the Raptors.
In the offseason, he was involved in a trade back to the Nuggets, where he was immediately waived. Jackson played for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the 02-03 season as John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
's backup. It was this season that Jackson moved into second place on the list of all time assists leaders behind his teammate Stockton. Jackson would play every single game that season without starting one before moving on as a member of the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in 2004. Jackson only played in 42 games as a Rocket and, experiencing a large drop off in skills, finished his career at season's end.
He is currently ranked 13th on the NBA all-time games list (1,296), 26th on the all-time minutes played list (39,121), 77th on the all-time three-point field goal
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s made list (734), 65th on the all-time 3-point field goal attempts list (2,213), 3rd on the all-time assists list (10,323) and 23rd on the all-time steals list (1,608). Jackson never achieved great individual success; despite winning Rookie of the Year in 1988, he only made one All-Star appearance in his career (1989).
Jackson is also notable for prompting an NBA rule change. In response to Jackson's penchant for backing down opposing point guards in the post for 15 or more seconds at a time, the league instituted the Five-second rule (basketball)
Five-second rule (basketball)
In basketball, the five-second rule, or five-second violation, is a rule that helps promote continuous play. There are multiple situations where a five-second violation may occur.-Five-second throw-in violation:...
, sometimes referred to as the "Mark Jackson Rule," prohibiting an offensive player from dribbling with his back to the basket for more than 5 consecutive seconds when below the free throw line.
Jackson is also known around the NBA for perfecting as well as increasing popularity of the "tear drop" shot, which he used often to shoot over much larger NBA defenders. The basketball shooting technique called "tear drop" is also referred to as the floater. Both of them are very descriptive names in that the basketball shot seems to "float" over the defender and drop into the hoop so lightly as if it were a drop of tears. It is an alternate basketball shooting move in a lay up where you take the step-and-a-half early and while jumping forward, you shoot the basketball over your defender before he jumps.
Post-retirement
Jackson worked as an analyst for New Jersey NetsNew Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on YES Network
YES Network
The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network is a New York City-based, regional cable television channel; it broadcasts a variety of sports events, with an emphasis on New York Yankees baseball games, and New Jersey Nets basketball games. YES made its debut on March 19, 2002...
, mostly with Marv Albert
Marv Albert
Marv Albert is an American television and radio sportscaster. Honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he is commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball." From 1967–2004, he was also known as "the voice of the New York Knicks."Including Super Bowl XLII, Marv has called...
. He has also worked as an analyst for ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
, teaming with Mike Breen
Mike Breen
Michael "Mike" Breen is a play-by-play commentator for the NBA on ABC and the lead commentator for New York Knicks games on the MSG network...
and former coach Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...
on these telecasts.
At the end of the 2008 NBA season, Jackson unexpectedly quit his position with the YES Network. This move fueled speculation that Jackson would be replacing Isiah Thomas as coach of the New York Knicks. However, Jackson claimed that the rumors were untrue and the decision was based on desire to stop commuting from Los Angeles and the fact that he continued to have a contract with ABC. Rumors however, kept swirling around of Jackson returning to NY as coach of the failing New York Knicks. Those rumors, however, were dispelled with the Knicks' hiring of former Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
head coach Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni
Michael Andrew "Mike" D'Antoni is an Italian-American former basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA's New York Knicks. While head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he won NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 2004–05 NBA season after the Suns posted 33 more wins than the previous...
.
Mark Jackson was hired as head coach of the Golden State Warriors on June 6, 2011.
Personal life
Jackson married singer/actress Desiree Coleman on July 29, 1990. The couple have 4 children, and currently live in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
He was the older brother of And 1
And 1
AND1 is an athletic shoe company specializing in basketball shoes and apparel. Founded in 1993, the company's headquarters were located in Paoli, Pennsylvania before being relocated to Aliso Viejo, California.-Company history:...
streetballer Troy Jackson
Troy Jackson
Troy Jackson was an American basketball player. The younger brother of former NBA player Mark Jackson, he was a member of the AND1 Mixtape Tour, known by his streetball nickname "Escalade"...
, better known as "Escalade". Troy Jackson died on February 20, 2011 at the age of 35. Jackson is also a licensed minister.
He and his wife pastor True Love Worship Center International in Van Nuys, California.
Regular season
|-| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 82 || 80 || 39.6 || .432 || .254 || .774 || 4.8 || 10.6 || 2.5 || .1 || 13.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 72 || 72 || 34.4 || .467 || .338 || .698 || 4.7 || 8.6 || 1.9 || .1 || 16.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 69 || 29.6 || .437 || .267 || .727 || 3.9 || 7.4 || 1.3 || .0 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 72 || 21 || 22.2 || .492 || .255 || .731 || 2.7 || 6.3 || .8 || .1 || 8.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 81 || 81 || 30.4 || .491 || .256 || .770 || 3.8 || 8.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 11.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 82 || 81 || 38.0 || .486 || .268 || .803 || 4.7 || 8.8 || 1.7 || .1 || 14.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
| 79 || 79 || 34.3 || .452 || .283 || .791 || 4.4 || 8.6 || 1.5 || .1 || 10.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 82 || 67 || 29.3 || .422 || .310 || .778 || 3.7 || 7.5 || 1.3 || .2 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 81 || 81 || 32.6 || .473 || .430 || .785 || 3.8 || 7.8 || 1.2 || .1 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Denver
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
| 52 || 52 || 38.5 || .425 || .397 || .801 || 5.2 || 12.3 || 1.0 || .2 || 10.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1996–97
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 30 || 30 || 35.1 || .427 || .316 || .766 || 4.1 || 9.8 || 1.5 || .1 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 82 || 82 || 29.4 || .416 || .314 || .761 || 3.9 || 8.7 || 1.0 || .0 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 49 || 49 || 28.2 || .419 || .311 || .823 || 3.8 || 7.9 || .9 || .1 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 81 || 81 || 27.0 || .432 || .403 || .806 || 3.7 || 8.0 || .9 || .1 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 54 || 54 || 33.4 || .422 || .345 || .842 || 3.4 || 9.2 || 1.2 || .1 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 29 || 28 || 27.1 || .411 || .310 || .529 || 4.1 || 5.6 || .7 || .0 || 5.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 81 || 28.9 || .439 || .405 || .791 || 3.8 || 7.4 || .9 || .0 || 8.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 82 || 0 || 17.9 || .398 || .284 || .763 || 2.1 || 4.6 || .6 || .0 || 4.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 42 || 3 || 13.7 || .340 || .171 || .718 || 1.7 || 2.8 || .4 || .0 || 2.5
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 1,296 || 1,091 || 30.2 || .447 || .332 || .770 || 3.8 || 8.0 || 1.2 || .1 || 9.6
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| All-Star
| 1 || 0 || 16.0 || .600 || 1.000 || .500 || 2.0 || 4.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 9.0
Playoffs
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 1988
1988 NBA Playoffs
The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987-1988 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons four games to three in the Finals...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 3 || – || 42.8 || .367 || .417 || .727 || 4.8 || 9.8 || 2.5 || .0 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1989
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 9 || – || 37.3 || .510 || .393 || .679 || 3.4 || 10.1 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1990
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 9 || – || 9.0 || .419 || .000 || .727 || .6 || 2.3 || .2 || .0 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1991
1991 NBA Playoffs
The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship via a four-games-to-one victory over the Western Conference champion Los...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 3 || 0 || 12.0 || .333 || – || – || .0 || 2.7 || .3 || .3 || .7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1992
1992 NBA Playoffs
NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 12 || 12 || 30.7 || .402 || .190 || .815 || 2.3 || 7.2 || .8 || .0 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1993
1993 NBA Playoffs
The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992-1993 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their third consecutive championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns four...
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 5 || 5 || 37.6 || .438 || .500 || .864 || 5.8 || 7.6 || 1.6 || .2 || 15.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1995
1995 NBA Playoffs
The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 17 || 17 || 32.5 || .454 || .400 || .739 || 5.2 || 7.1 || .8 || .0 || 9.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1996
1996 NBA Playoffs
The 1996 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1995-1996 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship in three years by defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 5 || 5 || 37.2 || .353 || .222 || .765 || 5.0 || 6.0 || 1.2 || .0 || 10.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1998
1998 NBA Playoffs
The 1998 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997-98 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their sixth championship of the decade by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz four...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 16 || 16 || 30.9 || .417 || .378 || .794 || 4.6 || 8.3 || 1.4 || .0 || 9.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1999
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 13 || 13 || 34.7 || .495 || .412 || .714 || 4.5 || 8.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...
| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana
| 23 || 23 || 27.6 || .392 || .313 || .903 || 3.7 || 7.7 || .8 || .1 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2001
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 5 || 5 || 31.2 || .500 || .250 || 1.000 || 5.2 || 5.2 || 1.6 || .0 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2003
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| style="text-align:left;"| Utah
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 5 || 0 || 16.6 || .500 || .556 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 3.2 || .6 || .0 || 7.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2004
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 5 || 0 || 7.6 || .167 || .000 || – || .6 || 1.0 || .4 || .0 || .4
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 131 || – || 28.8 || .432 || .345 || .777 || 3.6 || 6.9 || 1.0 || .1 || 9.0
Led the league with a total of 11.4 assists per game. Due to a mid-season trade ended up playing a total of 83 games.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with 22 or more assists in a game