Native son Jackson overcomes nerves

Desert Pines product relaxes, looks to land spot with Trail Blazers

By now, Pierre Jackson should feel comfortable playing basketball in his native Las Vegas. Yet, the former Desert Pines High School star said he was nervous before Saturday’s Portland-Phoenix game in the NBA Summer League at Cox Pavilion.

Jackson, a 5-foot-11-inch point guard, is again trying to earn a spot in the NBA, this time with the Trail Blazers. He was cut by the Philadelphia 76ers last preseason, then spent part of the year with Idaho and Texas of the NBA Development League while battling a groin injury.

“It’s weird, but I never get nervous before a game,” Jackson said. “I think there was a packed house, and I don’t get to play at home very often.”

Jackson started slowly, but finished with 11 points and four assists in 21 minutes of an 86-73 loss to the Suns.

“I thought I got better as the game went on,” he said. “When you come to a new team, you’re trying to figure out how to fit in, where guys want you to get them the ball, where the best spots on the court are for the other guys.”

Jackson, 24, knows he’s running out of chances. He hopes to play well enough in the summer league to get an invitation to Portland’s fall training camp.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Jackson said. “I’m over the injury that kept me out for most of the season. I’m 100 percent, and I just want to show these guys I can help them.”

LIN’S SUMMER MEMORIES — Jeremy Lin might not have made it to the NBA if not for the summer league.

Coming out of Harvard, Lin wasn’t picked in the 2010 NBA Draft, and the Dallas Mavericks were the only team to invite him to play for their summer league squad in Las Vegas.

Lin capitalized on his opportunity, outshining Washington Wizards guard John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, in one game and turning in a solid all-around performance in five games that led to him signing a two-year contract that summer with the Golden State Warriors.

Lin went on to create “Linsanity” with the New York Knicks during a stellar 2011-12 season before playing two seasons for the Houston Rockets and one season each for the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.

Lin recently signed a $36 million, three-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets and was back where it all began Saturday, watching his new team play the Cleveland Cavaliers. But instead of sitting at the end of the bench, he was sitting in floor seats at the Thomas & Mack Center and signing autographs for fans who chanted his name when he arrived.

“It just reminds me of how far I’ve come,” Lin said. “God has blessed me in so many ways, and the journey’s been so, so amazing. I was out here, coming off the bench on my summer league team, not thinking I would even possibly see the floor in a summer league game, and then somehow played a couple of good quarters and was able to find a way into the NBA.

“Coming back here and seeing these guys play definitely gives me a sense of appreciation for everything.”

SUNS-BLAZERS DISPUTE — Tempers flared in the Phoenix-Portland game. Suns guard Devin Booker aggressively fought through a screen set by Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh.

Vonleh took offense to what appeared to be a hard push to the abdomen and was assessed a technical foul. The teams had to be separated near midcourt.

STOCKTON LEGACY — Michael Stockton, son of Hall of Famer John Stockton, is making his fourth straight summer league appearance, this year with Cleveland. Undrafted in 2011, Stockton played in the NBA D League last season for the Canton Charge.

His brother, David Stockton, was resigned Saturday by the Sacramento Kings and is expected to join the team Sunday.

WHO WAS THERE? — Celtics All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas and teammate Amir Johnson watched Boston play Chicago at Cox Pavilion. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg also attended. … Twotime All-Star Kiki Vandeweghe was on hand. He’s the NBA’s vice president of basketball operations. … Suns owner Robert Sarver was sitting courtside with forward Jared Dudley, who is returning to the franchise after signing a free-agent deal. He played with the Washington Wizards last season.