Le Basketbawl

A close personal friend of New York Vinnie is a school teacher; yeah you know what they say opposites attract.  New York Vinnie asked him a few years ago why he has chosen that profession because you don’t get rich teaching school at any level. The answer he gave New York Vinnie made perfect sense in fact it was pretty cool; he told me that he gets no greater pleasure than to see a light come on in a students eyes that was vacant just seconds before. Because that means he has gotten through to them he has taught them something,

New York Vinnie believes that Golden State Warrior Stephen Jackson had one of those moments over the last couple of days as reality finally set in. Tuesday the “Contra Costa Times” reported that Jackson may seem to realize he is not going to any other team anytime soon. He told the paper “I’ve got no choice but to go out there. I’m just going to do my job. I don’t want to be fake. I’m just going to go and play basketball and handle my business. If something happens, then it happens. But I’m just going to play, just do what I do.”

Bottom line is no other team wants Jackson who is a player with a history of a malcontent and is signed to a long term contract. Last November Jackson signed a three year contract extension with the Warriors for a reported to be worth $27.8 million and that does not even kick in until next season. No other team especially a contender is going to be saddled with that  especially that Jackson has such a bad reputation and is already 31 years old. He is at his peak as far as his on court skills are concerned; and once you reach your mid-thirties in the NBA there are no guarantees on how long your health will last.

Jackson who in all reality is just a cheap knock off of his old running buddy Ron Artest thought by playing the bitter malcontent he would get his wish and get traded from the Warriors. After all his buddy  Artest was able to force the Sacramento Kings into trading Artest last season to the Houston Rockets. However what Einstein Jackson did not take into consideration was “Tru-Warrior” had one year left on his contract  and was a much easier gamble. Jackson has four years including the season that will start later this month. 

We will see how long this new version of Jackson will be around for; how long he will maintain his business like stance and not blow his cool. New York Vinnie has the feeling it will not last for long.