Back when I was playing for the Syracuse Nationals, Maurice Podoloff, was the NBA Commissioner. One day when he was in Syracuse, I heard him talking about a player and he said quote”that young man has had several peregrinations “. At first, I really didn’t know what he was talking about and then I realized the player that he was talking about had played for quiet a few teams. It goes back that far. Reading your article on Jackson reminded me of Podoloff’s comments. To use your word,”Jackson’s displeasure has always percolated below the surface” and I think that is true. The only difference in San Antonio is that it is very hard for a player to act up or show any displeasure when a team is winning and the Coach has Power.
Over the years, many of us have come up with a slogan for player like Jackson and many others. They are “break your heart players”. Every team that signs them thinks that they can change them. History will tell you that they don’t change. “Oh”, they may come in and be on their best behavior for a while but then revert back to who they really are.
Give San Antonio credit they took two bites of the apple and it obviously did not work out. One could ask the question, why would they bring him back a second time? The answer is because this is the model franchise and they have a coach who is riding the power train.
I enjoyed reading your article and I hope you don’t mind me expressing my view on the subject. I do touch on this subject in my upcoming book as well as coaches —-winning and power. Some coaches make a difference some of the time ,the great ones make a difference all of the time.
 P.S. Read George Dohrmann’s book, “Play Their Hearts Out”, it gives you a better understanding of what the AAU and the shoe companies do to these kids and how when they finally get to the NBA some not all are a thorough pain in the ass.