A short stint as a Raptor, Jackson later became an NBA coach, a victim of an extortion involving the FBI, and a Christian pastor attempting to heal Stephen Curry. He even appeared on a New York Knicks basketball card that included two murderers at court-side.
Before Arrival
Mark Jackson was selected 18th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1987 NBA draft. He would go on to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and the Denver Nuggets (who traded Jackson back to the Pacers after just eight months), before arriving to Toronto.
Toronto Raptors (2000-2001): 54 GP, 8.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG,9.2 APG, 33.4 MPG
On 11 August 2000, at age 35, Jackson signed with the Toronto Raptors as a free agent to a four-year, $14 million deal. He was brought in with the cap space that was freed up due to Tracy McGrady leaving Toronto to sign with the Orlando Magic.
To this day, Jackson holds the highest assists per game than any other Raptors at 9.2. For perspective, other notable point guards in Raptors history were Damon Stoudamire at 8.8 APG, Jose Calderon at 7.2 APG, and Kyle Lowry at 7.1 APG. However, Jackson’s defense and foot-speed had become a concern and his time as a Raptor was short-lived.
The Departure
On 22 February 2001, a span of about six months, he was traded, along with Muggsy Bogues, to the New York Knicks for Chris Childs and a 2002 1st round draft pick, which later became Kareem Rush.
At the time of this trade, both the Raptors and Knicks were battling for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks were the fourth seed in the East at 31-23 while the Raptors were the seventh seed at 28-27.
The trade was unpopular with some of the players, especially from Jackson’s friend and former teammate Antonio Davis at the time, who took his comments to the media.
”I think you try to see if the team is loyal to the player…you try to ask yourself, ‘If I sign with this team next year and we’re having problems are they going to jump the gun that quick and try to get rid of people?’ Those are things you ask yourself. As far as that particular trade is concerned, I can’t let it sway me one way or the other. But yeah, it’s in the back of my mind. They traded my friend. Obviously, it’s going to be a sour feeling in me.”
– Antonio Davis, quoted in the New York Times
Jackson himself also sounded displeased.
”They have to take credit for losing Tracy McGrady and losing Doug Christie…they want to take credit for the good moves. Well, take credit for the bad moves, too.”
– Mark Jackson on Raptors management
The Raptors would meet the Knicks that very same year in the first-round of the playoffs. The Raptors managed to come back from a 2-1 deficit to win the deciding game five on the Knicks’ home court.
Jackson would go on to play also for the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets before completing a successful NBA career. As of the date of this post, Jackson was 4th in NBA all-time assists with 10,334.
Retirement Career
After retirement, Mark Jackson appeared on television as an NBA broadcast commentator.
On 6 June 2011, Jackson was hired as head coach of the Golden State Warriors. After inheriting a team that had made the playoffs just once in the previous 17 years, Jackson’s team struggled to a 23–43 record. In the 2012–13 season, Jackson led the Warriors to a 47–35 record and a #6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The following season, the Warriors improved to 51–31, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Victim of Extortion
In 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) filed a Criminal Complaint to the United States District Court. The FBI later confirmed that the victim in the case was referring to Mark Jackson. You can download the actual court document filed by the FBI below.
The facts of the case was that Alexis Adams and her associate, Marcus Shaw, allegedly attempted to extort up to US$200,000 from Mark Jackson so that private, nude, explicit photographs and “phone recordings” Jackson sent to Adams would not be made public.
Jackson, while working as a television analyst, met Adams in 2006, who was a dancer at a gentleman’s club in New York.
On 28 June 2012, Jackson issued the following public statement to the media:
“My family and I were the victims of an extortion scheme.
The scheme began on 3 April 2012, when the Warriors were in Memphis to play the Grizzlies. A man approached me at the team hotel with personal information which he threatened to sell to a tabloid. At the time, he demanded a substantial sum of money. Regrettably, I paid him. In retrospect, I understand that this was a terrible lapse in judgment and a course of action I would not recommend to anyone.
Following the encounter in Memphis – a little over two weeks later – the extortionist sent an e-mail and phoned my wife, Desiree, making threats and demanding additional money. At that point, I informed the Warriors about the situation and asked for their guidance. We immediately notified the FBI, which promptly began an investigation.
The personal information in the extortion scheme related to a woman that I, mistakenly, had an extra-marital relationship with six years ago – prior to joining the Warriors – when I was a TV sports analyst. I made my wife aware of the relationship at that time, apologized to her and we reconciled…… At that time in my life, I was not pastoring. Three years ago, my wife and I established a ministry. With deepest regret, I want to apologize to my Church Family.
I was wrong. We must live Holy.”
– Mark Jackson
This may have been a shocking revelation to fans, as Jackson, even before becoming a Christian and a licensed minister, signed his cards with “God bless U” and was known as a holy man spreading his faith.
Christian Pastor
In 2009, Jackson and his wife pastor established the True Love Worship Center International in Reseda, California. The story does not end there, as Sports Illustrated had written about Jackson’s Church and their attempt to heal Stephen Curry’s injuries.
A part of the tradition at Jackson’s church was a spirited service including worshippers jogging along the walls of the congregation in praise. [Stephen] Curry, two days removed from his latest sprain, found himself taking laps with Jackson and the other members filled with the spirit. Then after Jackson’s sermon, his wife and co-pastor, Desiree, continued the worship with an impromptu sermon and benediction. She also called Curry to the altar.
They took off his shoes and socks, anointed his ankle with oil and prayed for healing. The parishioners lifted their voices in chants and amens, calling on God to bless one of His Christian ambassadors. Service at Jackson’s church was much more passionate and engaging than Curry was used to back in Charlotte. But he humbly accepted the blessing that was being offered and returned to his seat with a smile on his face.
“Where you going?” Desiree asked the star point guard in front of the congregation. Curry responded with his go-to look of bewilderment, a half smile and widened eyes. He thought he was supposed to return back among the flock when she was done.
“You don’t get a blessing from the Lord and just walk off!” she shouted. “Show us you believe in the power of God.”
It took Curry a second to understand what she meant. Then the old Bible stories rushed to his mind. Like when Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, that man had to pick up his mat and walk. If he believed he was healed, he needed to show it.
So Curry started shimmying and hopping on his right foot, much to the delight of the congregation.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Curry said.
– excerpts from M Thompson, Sports Illustrated citing “Golden: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry” by M Thompson II
On 6 May 2014, Jackson was removed as head coach of the Warriors, before the Warriors become a dynasty under head coach Steve Kerr.
The Card: 2000-01 Upper Deck Black Diamond – Gold #80
The 2000-01 Upper Deck Black Diamond – Gold set was a parallel set of 132 cards. The card was serial numbered, out of 250 or 500. This card is 327/500. Four players were in the set as Toronto Raptors that year – Vince Carter, Antonio Davis, Morris Peterson, and Mark Jackson.
As of the date of this post, Mark Jackson did not have an autographed or relic Toronto Raptors card issued by any trading card company.
Jackson’s autographs on cards can be easily distinguished because he would regularly write “God Bless”, or “God Bless U” along with his signature.
One of Jackson’s most popular cards was the 1990-91 NBA Hoops card #205 with the New York Knicks, showing the convicted Menendez brothers watching the game court-side. The full story is here.
Resources:
- C Broussard. “PRO BASKETBALL; Raptors’ Quick Trade of Jackson Upsets Davis.” New York Times, 4 March 2001. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/04/sports/pro-basketball-raptors-quick-trade-of-jackson-upsets-davis.html
- M Thompson. “The Anointed Ankle: Steph Curry’s Blessed Day.” Sports Illustrated, 7 April 2017. https://www.si.com/nba/2017/04/07/stephen-curry-book-excerpt-ankle-injury-mark-jackson
MoCC 