A bad game from Reggie Jackson in the 88-82 Detroit Pistons win over the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t stop him from enthusiastically celebrating in front of the home fans, which was something Russell Westbrook really didn’t like.
Both players, who used to be teammates, didn’t play very well. Jackson, who was traded by the Thunder to Detroit last season in what worked out wonderfully for him in terms of minutes, role and money (signed a 5-year, $80 million deal in the offseason), shot just 4-for-15 from the field, scoring 13 points. After hitting two free throws to give the Pistons and 86-82 lead, Westbrook missed a desperate three pointer, leading to an Aron Baynes rebound and another foul, sending him to the line, ending the chances of the Thunder to make a miraculous turnaround. Jackson started jumping up and down while waving to the crowd. He engaged in trash talk with Thunder players throughout the game.
Westbrook, who was 8-for-28 from the field and the Thunder were a -20 with him on the court, did score 24 points, and especially didn’t like how Jackson celebrated the win. Why? Because he’s a sore loser probably, and doesn’t really like Jackson. In fact, he dislikes him so much, he was willing to be nice to the media when being asked about the whole thing, instead of his usual snarky self, just like Kevin Durant (who wasn’t playing) when they have to talk to the press.
Honestly, I think that was some real bullshit. I don’t appreciate it for our team and our organization. I don’t like it at all. But it is what it is. We’ll see him down the line. We’ll take care of that when we get there. It doesn’t matter now. He wasn’t changing nothing for us. Obviously he didn’t want to be here, he’s got a better spot, he’s not doing too much of a difference if you ask me.
Jackson is the Pistons leading scorer, and seems quite happy there, unlike his time in Oklahoma City. He didn’t get the love and minutes he wanted, but he also wasn’t really making himself easy to be around before he got traded. Nothing too out of the ordinary in the NBA and still, it seems there’s some bad blood between the two sides, especially on the losing end. Personally I don’t see the problem with this kind of celebrating and gloating. Stephen Curry does it all the time in Oakland. He simply wasn’t a former teammate of Westbrook’s, so Russell doesn’t seem to be too mad right now.