(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Stan Van Gundy doesn't try to pretend he is ignoring the media. The Detroit Pistons' president and coach consumes what is written and what is said, and he is aware of the criticism the organization received when it reached an agreement with point guard Reggie Jackson - five years, $80 million - two weeks ago. But Van Gundy isn't concerned about critics saying Jackson will be overpaid.
He is only concerned with the franchise snapping its streak of six straight seasons without making the playoffs.
And with Jackson on board, Van Gundy said he has his point guard, and with the salary cap rising because of TV revenues, he thinks the contract will be considered a bargain in a few seasons.
"The only thing that mattered in this whole process with us was to make sure we got him signed long term," Van Gundy said Monday at a news conference at the Palace shortly after Jackson signed. "That's the only thing that mattered, and we got that done.
"We're excited about that and I think that also ... that as we get two years down the road and look at what's going on in this league and where the numbers are gonna go and the way we know that Reggie's gonna play, we know this is going to be a bargain in this league."
But that is not how others look at Jackson, 25, who has been a backup for most his career and was acquired at the trade deadline from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Washington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall took a verbal shot at Jackson.
"People talk about me getting $80 million, now you got people getting $85 million that haven't made the All-Star (Game) or anything like that," Wall told Comcast SportsNet Washington recently. "I guess they came in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in, and they're good now. Reggie Jackson gets five years, $80 million. I'm getting the same as Reggie Jackson."
Jackson became the headline, but there was a failure to see the shot at Golden State Warrior and former Spartan Draymond Green, who is getting $85 million and has never made an All-Star Game.
Green is an NBA champion, and winners typically are overvalued, and Jackson is the go-to guy on a lottery team.
And the Thunder paying center Enes Kanter $70 million over four years has topped the Jackson criticism.
But Jackson, Green and Kanter are benefiting from the infusion of TV money and the subsequent rise in the salary cap.
ESPN Stats & Info compiled a graph that shows Jackson's numbers in his 27-game audition with the Pistons were nearly identical to Wall's statistics for the 2014-15 season.
And Jackson's numbers for the last 16 games (nearly one-fifth of an NBA season) were even better: He averaged 20 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. He was shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range, 48 percent overall - dominant numbers as he became a triple-double threat.
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