The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have obtained forward Stephen Jackson from the Golden State Warriors. In exchange, San Antonio sent Richard Jefferson, T.J. Ford and a protected 2012 first round draft pick to the Warriors.
The 6-8, 220-pound Jackson spent two seasons (2001-03) in San Antonio and was a part of the 2003 NBA Championship team. In his two seasons with the Silver and Black, Jackson averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.36 steals in 24.1 minutes. During the Spurs 2003 championship run, Jackson started all 24 games, averaging 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.38 steals in 33.8 minutes.
Jackson, 33, started the 2011-12 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, before being traded to Golden State on March 13. In 26 games with the Bucks, Jackson averaged 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.4 minutes.
An 11-year NBA veteran, Jackson has appeared in 773 career games, averaging 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.3 minutes. He has seen action in 58 playoff games, averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.53 steals in 36.5 minutes.
“We’ve been aggressive in the last 48 hours and feel this is another transaction that will benefit our team, both now and in the future,” said General Manager Larry Riley. “Richard Jefferson has played a key role and has been a solid contributor on some very successful basketball teams during his career. He has won a lot of games and will certainly provide our team with some veteran leadership and perimeter shooting skills. Additionally, as has been well-documented, we are in an unknown position in regards to our first round draft pick this season and are quite pleased to, potentially, acquire a pick in what is expected to be a pretty deep draft.”
Jefferson, 31, has appeared in 41 games (all starts) with the Spurs this season, averaging 9.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 28.5 minutes. The 6’7” forward has played for three NBA teams (New Jersey, Milwaukee and San Antonio) during his 10-year NBA career, including the last three-plus years in San Antonio. Originally drafted by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft (#13 overall), Jefferson finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting in 2002 and was a member of the 2004 USA Olympic Team (Athens, Greece). He has averaged double figures in scoring in each of his 10 NBA seasons with the exception of his rookie campaign (9.4), highlighted by a career-high 22.6 points per game during the 2007-08 season. Last season, the Los Angeles native started 81 games for the Spurs (11.0 points and 3.8 rebounds) and ranked fourth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.440). Overall, Jefferson has appeared in 774 career NBA games, averaging 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He has also appeared in 94 career playoff games, including back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals with the New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003.
Ford, 28, has appeared in 14 games for the Spurs this season, averaging 3.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 13.6 minutes. Earlier this week, he announced that he planned to take an indefinite leave of absence from basketball activities. Originally selected in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks (#8 overall), Ford has suffered a series of neck and spine injuries during his eight-year NBA career, most recently on March 7 vs. New York, and is contemplating retirement. He has appeared in 429 career NBA games, averaging 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
