The Warriors reportedly had interest in hiring Stephen Jackson as a coach, but he wanted to make a comeback as a player.
Will they indulge him?
In a since-deleted tweeted, Rachel Nichols of ESPN relayed that Jackson planned to attend training camp with the Warriors. But, apparently, nobody told them.
Henry Wofford of CSN Bay Area:
The Warriors say Stephen Jackson has not been invited to camp.
— Henry Wofford (@HWoffordSports) July 10, 2016
Nichols:
Totally correct & did not mean to start a 🔥. Way too early for official training camp invites. But we're Stephen's.. https://t.co/xZdJ9fcTlN
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) July 10, 2016
...TV family & we're so happy he is trying to make a comeback, and has been talking to the Warriors about camp. We are rooting for him.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) July 10, 2016
Given the chain of reporting, I’m skeptical the interest in a training camp invitation is mutual. The Warriors are down to minimum contracts after clearing cap space to sign Kevin Durant, but they should have their pick of the best veterans willing to take the minimum.
That’s not Jackson, who’s 38 and hasn’t played in the NBA since 2013-14, when he played just nine games with the Clippers.
Still, Jackson’s intense confidence took him far in the pros after being a second-round pick (in 1997!). Maybe it’ll get him a tryout in Golden State.
There’d be something cool about connecting the “We Believe” team and the current juggernaut edition of the Warriors.