If you had to shoot 10 free throws in your driveway right now, how many would you make? 10 out of 10, you say? Sure thing buddy.
Now, imagine you are doing it in a 20,000 seat arena. Now, imagine you are doing it in a 20,000 seat arena that is sold out. Now, imagine you play in the Big Ten and you are on the road playing the Indiana Hoosiers. Add to the mix that everyone knows your dad and people you don’t even know are talking bad about him. And, you’re basically running around in your underwear.
How many free throws out of 10 could you hit, again? Grazing the rim would be an accomplishment. Traevon Jackson does this every night and hits 8 out of 10 consistently. Check out this interview we did with him.
What’s the most annoying or creative heckling you have heard in any Big Ten arena?
“A lot of stuff about my dad, but I’ve heard that forever so it’s rare I hear anything new. Honestly, I don’t know. There was this one lady at Indiana after we beat them. It was after the game and I was walking off the court and she was just sitting there on the sidelines. I was walking off the court and apparently I was smiling and she said, “There’s nothing to be smiling at!” It caught me off guard and I thought, “Why are you so mad?” That’s one thing that comes to mind. Fans always say “Jimmy’s better!’ (laughing) but I’m so focused on the game I don’t even pay attention except at maybe at a dead ball.”
Is there added pressure based on who your dad is to succeed? What’s the dynamic of that like?
“Growing up, I felt it more than I do now, but now I don’t even think about it at all, actually. The pressure that I feel now the most is pleasing the Lord. That may sound cliché, but that’s an everyday type of task and the biggest thing for me. As long as I continue to grow in that aspect, there is no other question.”
Who would win a game of one on one right now?
“Oh, me of course (laughing). Easily. He can beat me in golf and all the other, cards, all that stuff, but he’s not beating me on the court.”
How did him moving, playing for 12 different NBA teams, impact you as you were growing up?
“It was great. I got to go to a lot of different cities and see a lot of places I wouldn’t have probably otherwise seen. But, just from watching him, I got to really go thru and experience his career. He started out as a top guy in the league and eventually became a productive role player. Just seeing how he handled it was awesome. It taught me no matter what, and I think about it now when I go through adversity, I never saw him put his head down, he always found a way, just like my mom- keep working hard and good things will come.”
Contact Traevon on Twitter @T_Jacks12
