Think about being one step away from a life-changing alternative, solely to understand you misunderstood the foundations. That’s precisely what occurred to Stephen Jackson, as he revealed on the Straight Recreation podcast. The previous Golden State Warriors star didn’t play school basketball due to his tutorial ineligibility. Nevertheless, it’s not as if he by no means tried to rectify the state of affairs. Yep, Stack Jack had a shot at becoming a member of the College of Arizona however knew he was in hassle earlier than he even started.
“Y’all thought it was about to occur. I knew I wasn’t gonna go that f*cking check,” Stak admitted on the podcast. Becoming a member of him within the dialog, Mike Bibby revealed he tried encouraging Stephen Jackson, even establishing a check location close to campus and welcoming Jackson to stick with him.
Every little thing appeared lined up for fulfillment. But, Jackson’s unfamiliarity with the method and self-doubt received the higher of him.
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“Anyone [was] there to manage the check to me. I’m not used to motherf*ckers simply brazenly prepared to assist me with nothing,” Stak shared, reflecting on his mindset. Think about pondering you’re by yourself, solely to seek out out later that assist was there all alongside? That’s the punch to the intestine Stephen Jackson felt when the administrator mentioned, “Oh, I’m shocked you didn’t ask me for any assist.”
Considering the proctor was there to cease him from dishonest, Jackson didn’t dare ask for help. “I’d have had me a nationwide championship, canine,” he mentioned, nonetheless stung by the missed probability.
by way of Imago
However as everyone knows it, the 6’8″ star’s story didn’t end there. Regardless of the setback, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft straight out of highschool. The Phoenix Suns even chosen him with the forty second total decide however later waived him. Following this, Stak performed within the Continental Basketball Affiliation (CBA) and Australia’s Nationwide Basketball League to achieve expertise earlier than ultimately touchdown within the NBA and even claiming a championship.
This, nevertheless, doesn’t cease us from taking a pause and pondering what if Jack made it to Arizona?
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What may have been with Stephen Jackson on Arizona Wildcats?
The 1997 Arizona Wildcats gave basketball followers a match run for the ages. Taking down three No. 1 seeds—Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky—they made NCAA historical past. And introduced residence the championship. Miles Simon, the match’s main scorer, earned MVP honors, with Mike Bibby proper by his facet on the All-Closing 4 staff.
Their grit shone by way of, particularly after they clawed again from double-digit deficits of their first two video games and clinched an time beyond regulation thriller towards Windfall to succeed in their third Closing 4. With a staff document for steals that season, the Wildcats have been a drive to be reckoned with. However think about if Stephen Jackson had been a part of this squad.
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Whereas we’ll by no means know for certain, his presence might need pushed the Wildcats towards one other championship. Stephen Jackson wasn’t simply good—he was distinctive. He led Lincoln Excessive College to a state title as a junior and shined at Oak Hill Academy, incomes All-American honors in 1996. And who may overlook his standout efficiency within the McDonald’s All-American Boys Recreation, sharing the courtroom with Kobe Bryant?
Including a expertise like Jackson to an already historic Wildcats staff may have been the stuff of a basketball legend. Provided that he would’ve cleared his SATs.