Golden State Warriors: Ranking the 30 best Warriors ever
By Tony Pesta
28. Stephen Jackson
Stats: 179 GP, 19.4 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 41.6 FG%
Stephen Jackson was one of the key players during the San Antonio Spurs’ 2002-03 championship run as a premier defender who provided solid veteran leadership. This is exactly why the Golden State Warriors traded for him in the 2006-07 NBA season.
From 2006-10, Jackson played four seasons with the Warriors. Despite being widely known for his defense, he had his best offensive years while playing for the Warriors. In these four seasons, Jackson averaged 20+ points for three straight years. Furthermore, he put up a career-high 20.7 points per game in the 2008-09 season. This performance helped the Warriors reach the NBA playoffs for the first time in 13 years.
Jackson’s most notable moment with Golden State was his contribution to the 2007 “We Believe” team. Matched up against the 1-seeded Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. Jackson averaged 22.8 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field. In addition to scoring, Jackson as a lockdown defender. Standing at 6’8″, Jackson’s versatility on defense was a huge reason for the Dubs’ success.
Jackson was eventually traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in return for Raja Bell and Vladamir Radmanovic. However, Jackson is still remembered by Golden State as a fan favorite.