After playing almost all-star level basketball in his first year and a half with the Pistons, last year was not a good year for Reggie Jackson or the Pistons franchise.
Jackson dealt with knee tendinitis all season that caused him to miss the first month of the season and the final nine games once the Pistons were essentially out of playoff contention. 2016-17 was a highly disappointing year for a team many thought could challenge for a top four or five seed in the east.
Jackson saw his scoring go down by four points per game and shot just under 42% in 52 games while the Pistons struggled mightily with him on the floor and appeared to play better with back up point guard Ish Smith.
The Pistons know they need Jackson to return to the postseason in 2017-18 though and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy has some good news, as reported by the Detroit Free Press:
“Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told the Free Press on Monday morning that after an examination last week, Jackson has increased basketball activity and will arrive at the practice facility later this week to join teammates.
“All good with the doctors and ramping up his basketball work,” Van Gundy wrote in a text.
“He’ll be ready.”
The Pistons are hoping Jackson can become the aggressive rim attacker once again that makes him an effective player and they can ride his rejuvenation to a playoff berth in 2018.
