After not getting drafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Syracuse’s Rick Jackson was invited by the San Antonio 
Spurs to attend their upcoming mini-camp.
However, according to his father, Jackson said no to the Spurs’ invite and further said San Antonio should have drafted him:
But Jackson will turn that offer down, his father, Rick Jackson Sr., said in a phone interview Friday.
“(Rick) said the Spurs had the 59th pick,” Jackson Sr. said. “They should have picked him then.”
Jackson was quite vocal on Twitter about not getting selected in the draft. He ranted throughout the draft and when it was apparent he was not going to hear his name called, he said he will make every team who passed on him pay.
Jackson’s father also said his son will now play professionally overseas before returning to hopefully latch on to an NBA team:
“There’s a few teams that want him overseas,” Jackson Sr. said. “And he’s talking to the teams with the best deal his agent gets for him. He’s going to go overseas and play ball professionally.”
One can appreciate Jackson’s determination to make it to the NBA especially since he was tops in the Big East in rebounds, averaged 2.5 blocks and 58% from the field. He also received All-Big East Second Team honors.
Still, to go on a public forum such as Twitter and rant and act unprofessionally, does reflect on his maturity level.
Regardless, hopefully this one-year playing abroad will continue to help develop his game, and allow him to catch on with an NBA team if he does intend to prove he has what it takes to make it in the NBA.
(photo: daylife.com)
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