Ex-Pacers Guard Mark Jackson Signs Four-Year, $14 Million Deal Toronto Raptors

Jet, Sept 4, 2000

Free-agent point guard Mark Jackson, who has spent the past five-plus seasons with the Indiana Pacers, recently signed a four-year contract with the Toronto Raptors.

Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to The Sports Network, Jackson reportedly will receive about $14 million with the possibility of more.

"They stepped up to the plate," Jackson said of the Raptors, The Sports Network reported. `That's what it boiled down to. It was a no-brainer."

Glen Grunwald, senior vice president and general manger of the Raptors, said the team is "very pleased to bring a player of Mark's caliber and experience to the Raptors. He's an exceptional leader with great court sense who truly understands the game and how it should be played."

Jackson ranks fifth on the NBA's all-time assist chart with 8,574 over his 13-year career. He averaged 8.1 points, 8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 27 minutes in 81 games with Indiana last season, leading the Pacers to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history.

Pacers President Donnie Walsh said he offered Jackson a deal, but feared they wouldn't be able to keep the free agent due to the salary cap.

"I felt he got an unbelievable offer from Toronto and I understand why he had to take it," Walsh said.

The 6-foot-3 guard began his career in his native New York with the Knicks in 1987-88. After five seasons with them, he joined the L.A. Clippers in 1992, and later was traded to the Pacers in June 1994. In 1,007 career games, Jackson averaged 10.6 points, 8.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds.