Distractions Behind Him, Jefferson's Rready To Rock

Never did Richard Jefferson want or need to get away from basketball and New Jersey more than he did when last season ended.

And he almost was told not to come back.


Looking to upgrade, the Nets nearly sent Jefferson to Indiana -- who wanted to ship him elsewhere -- in a package for Jermaine O'Neal, or Charlotte in a three-team trade for Lamar Odom.

Jefferson understands the business and accepts it. The trade reports were nothing compared to the personal, professional and physical issues Jefferson endured during his sixth season as a Net.

His body was never right, and neither was his game, because of a right-ankle injury that he elected to have surgery on in January.

Some Nets felt Jefferson, who often has played hurt, could have kept playing on his ankle, which helped lead to a strain in the locker room.

Tabloid-like rumors and stories also floated about Jefferson. Then during the Cleveland playoff series, Jefferson lost his grandmother.

When the Cavs ousted the Nets, the small forward simply needed to get away.

"There were so many things on and off the court, personal and business, that I was ready to get over and done with," Jefferson said.

"This is such a funny game in the sense that people forget quickly what you normally do and what you consistently do and they only look at what you've been doing that season. There were so many distractions. It's good to have that part over and done with it.

"You understand you can't be in this position, in this area, making the kind of money on the type of team we're on without having people gossip about you or talk about you.

"It wasn't a matter of that. It was just one thing after another. So it was good to get to the summer, relax, get healthy again, start working out and get back to the part of the game you love so much."

When he left, though, it appeared Jefferson wouldn't be back.

Days after the season ended, assistant coach Ryan Krueger, a staunch Jefferson supporter and confidant, was fired. Then the trade talk started with Jefferson as the centerpiece.

But Jefferson focused on getting right. He rested the ankle and then, for the first time, went to Tim Grgurich's camp in Las Vegas to work on his game.

Jefferson returned to the Nets feeling better about himself, the team and looking to follow Jason Kidd's lead.

Last year, "He was as close to being traded as anybody could have been," Jefferson said. "What does he do? He comes out and has one of the best playoffs a point guard has ever had. Even though he was almost traded, he was still the ultimate professional. He was still out there competing at the highest level.

"How can I come out here and not give my all or worry about that stuff? You have to come out here and play basketball and enjoy it to the max."

The Nets have seen a difference. Bostjan Nachbar said Jefferson looks more "determined" and "motivated" than last year.

"I'm pretty sure he wanted to take some time away and think about some things," Nachbar said. "I'm happy to see him back here. Whatever he did in the summer helped."

Jefferson remains a big part of the Nets' plans. The change back to a motion offense was partly because of him. But Jefferson knows he still could be traded at any time.

If he is, Jefferson said he will have special memories for "being part of a group that really started a franchise."

source : northjersey.com