Hometown hero Jackson gets start

LAS VEGAS  -- It was a light-hearted moment when 76ers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce walked over  to Pierre Jackson to explain why the point guard would start in Saturday night's NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jackson is a Las Vegas native and former standout at the city's Desert Pines High School. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder will be a huge fan favorite in the summer league.

"I told everybody I didn't want to upset [Jackson's fan club]," Pierce told Jackson.

"They were going to throw rocks at you,"  Jackson responded.

"Yeah, they were going to throw rocks at me," Pierce said. " So you are starting."

Jokes aside. this is definitely a milestone moment for Jackson.

"I'm trying to dummy it down, actually," Jackson said. "You know the nerves are going to get up there up. Obviously, I'm not a 100 percent [with a right groin injury]. But I feel good. That's every kid's dream."

He remembers, as a seventh-grader, handling towels to Dwight Howard and other summer leaguers.  So actually being able to start in this event is a dream come true.

"And now, I have a daughter," Jackson said.  "So she can see her dad's first game here. So it's pretty big."

Jackson ruptured his right Achilles tendon last July in the Orlando Pro Summer League.   The team released him in September, but still gave the 23-year-old  $400,000 to rehab his injury.

Jackson and center Jahlil Okafor are the only announced starters for Saturday's game.

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer at Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers