Shooting the Lights Out: Remembering Chris Jackson

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 I’m here to tell you that player who fit that bill best was born in Gulfport, Mississippi on March 9, 1969. He stood only 6 feet and 1 inch tall. He played point guard in the Deep South, at LSU. His name at birth: Chris Wayne Jackson. His name today: Mahmoud Abdul Rauf.

 I love a good basketball argument, but honestly – in this case, it’s not even close. There simply has not been another collegiate player who was as dominant in all phases of the offensive game as Chris Jackson at LSU.

 He was the fastest with and without the ball. He had the most range on his jumper. He had hops…he had a killer crossover and didn’t have to palm the ball like most guards to get separation. He was an awesome free throw shooter (91% as a sophomore). He attacked the lane fearlessly, and was still able to score consistently from deep. He was also an excellent passer.

 I suspect that in many respects, he has been erased from the memory of most sports announcers because of his ill-fated professional decision to sit during the singing of the national anthem. There was no way for him to win by taking that position. His home was firebombed as a result of that decision.

His NBA career did not end immediately, thanks to consideration from those Vegas gamblers: the Maloof brothers and owners of the Sacramento Kings. But, after his stint with the Kings ended, Abdul Rauf played in Turkey, Russia, Italy and Greece.

He also suffered from Tourette’s Syndrome. He became a Muslim over the course of his career and fasted during Ramadan. Hakeem Olajuwon did the same thing during his playing days, but his frame and stature seemed to handle the weight loss much better.

 

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