In 1998, Indiana Pacers point guard Mark Jackson passed Maurice Cheeks for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time assists list. Jackson tallied 12 assists and secured the spot in a 95-91 win over the Washington Wizards. The 18th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, Jackson played for seven different teams throughout his 17 season NBA career. He was also named NBA Rookie of the Year, the lowest pick to earn that honor since 1958. Jackson’s most notable years were spent with the Knicks where we played alongside Patrick Ewing. In the 1989 playoffs, Jackson helped the Knicks eliminate the 76ers led by Charles Barkley. The Knicks would eventually be eliminated by the Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Over 1,296 regular season games, Jackson averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 points, and 8 assists. Jackson is currently ranked fourth on the NBA all-time assists list with 10,334 career assists.
Today in Sports History: March 19
