Stephen Jackson Says Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo Want Him to Play for Bulls
Stephen Jackson hasn't suited up in an NBA game since his brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2013-14 season, but the 38-year-old swingman says he's been recruited by one Eastern Conference team in advance of the 2016-17 campaign.
In an interview with HoopsHype's Raul Barrigon on Tuesday, Jackson disclosed that Chicago Bulls teammates Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo are trying to find a spot for him on an increasingly crowded roster.
"Well, actually, not a lot of people know that Jimmy has been calling me," Jackson said of Butler's recruitment. "We’ve been talking for like three months now. Even Rondo has been calling me, they really want me on the Bulls team."
Jackson added that he has "been talking to a lot of guys, because guys know what I bring," and he mentioned that recently retired San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan once called him the "ultimate teammate."
In a recent post on Instagram, Jackson proclaimed he "will be back in the NBA this year" but cautioned that he couldn't disclose what his plans are as the season approaches:
"I know that I have to make a decision by mid-September," Jackson told Barrigon. "Now it’s August, coaches and [general managers] are getting back from vacation."
In July, a report surfaced indicating the Golden State Warriors—for whom Jackson suited up from 2007 to 2009—could invite him to training camp, but CSN Bay Area's Henry Wofford reported the defending Western Conference champions denied the news.
Jackson could bring a strong voice to the Bulls locker room, but Chicago may not need more veteran leadership now that Dwyane Wade has joined Butler, Rondo and Taj Gibson in the Windy City.
Plus, the Bulls have plenty of wing depth. Between Butler, Doug McDermott and Tony Snell, head coach Fred Hoiberg has three talented small forwards he needs to keep in the rotation to balance out a lineup that's otherwise devoid of effective floor-spacers.
Even though Jackson could pay dividends behind the scenes as a positive influence on a team that's seeking to establish an identity in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race, it's hard to envision the swingman making a tangible statistical impact at 38 years old.
