The 76ers’ busy offseason has slowed down. They pulled off the NBA’s most dramatic free agency move in lure longtime star forward Paul George away from his hometown Los Angeles Clippers on a max contract. They also added key complementary players — and brought back key members of the 2023-24 team — in hopes of contending for a championship.
With the roster nearly set, The Inquirer reached out to reporters to provide insight on the Sixers’ newcomers.
Next up is Chris Dempsey, who covered veteran point guard Reggie Jackson as a Denver Nuggets reporter and analyst for Altitude Sports.
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Q: How would you describe Jackson’s time with the Nuggets? He was a coveted buyout prospect in 2023, but his fit wasn’t always there.
A: So I would say his time with the Nuggets is more positive than negative. In his first year, when he came in after being bought out, he struggled to find consistent accuracy with his jump shot. But I always attributed that to two things. First, being back in Colorado, where he played in high school, he probably put too much pressure on himself to perform at a high level right away. Friends and family in the stands, and a fan base that was well aware of one of their own returning, can do that to a player. Second, he simply needed a full offseason and training camp to understand the Nuggets’ style of play — where his shots were coming from, the constant changes on and off the ball depending on who was there with him.
His usage could vary wildly from game to game. But over the course of the season, he managed to put a lot of things together. When Jamal Murray was missing games early in the season, Jackson was stellar, putting up starting numbers in his absence. And when he was removed from the rotation that first season, he was a steadying and galvanizing force in the locker room and in practice. He did a ton of work behind the scenes and was a leader in being a supportive teammate even as his own minutes were significantly reduced. He never complained. He simply accepted his role until his number was called.
Q: At this point in his career, when is Jackson at his best in terms of playing style, team composition, etc.?
A: I would say a backup role, where there’s no pressure to score every night, is ideal. Jackson said he knows his big-minute days are behind him, but he has a lot of value as a backup point guard — say, 15-20 minutes — who will step into a 15-20 point game when you really need him if the minutes are bigger on a particular night.
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Q: Is there anything Jackson learned playing with Nikola Jokic that you think could help him transition into another talented MVP like Joel Embiid?
A: It’s hard to say, because the primary playstyle of the stars is very different. You have to play with a lot of movement all the time around Jokic, because the first thing he’s looking to do is serve up a teammate for an open shot. And while Embiid averaged a career-high assists last season, his biggest value is as a focal point scorer with the ability to create plays when needed. So I think when it comes to Embiid, Jackson’s ability to be a great catch-and-shoot player is important, and he made 40.1 percent of his catch-and-shoots from three-point range in Denver last season.
Q: How did Jackson, 34, maintain the longevity to play all 82 games last season? What value could that have for a playoff team?
A: He’s a real pro. He knows how to take care of himself over the long term. Last season was only the second time he played all 82 games of his career, and he did it for more than 22 minutes per game.