Jarrett Jack receives praise from former coach Mark Jackson

Though Andrew Bynum may be getting all of the attention when it comes to Cavalier additions, Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson finds himself still upset over losing veteran guard Jarrett Jack, who the Cavs signed at the onset of this year’s free agency period.

“It was torture,” Jackson said of hearing Jack had signed with Cleveland. “Because he’s an incredible, incredible—forget about basketball. He’s a great leader, loves the game, no nonsense.”

Earlier this month, Jack signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Cavaliers that will allow him to help guide a team looking to return to contention. Coming off the bench for the Golden Stare Warriors last season, Jack averaged 12.9 points,  3.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

Jack has played in at least 79 games each season since 2005, serving as both starting and reserve point guard. At age 29, Jack will be one of the oldest players on Cleveland’s roster. He comes to a team that won just 24 games a year ago, but as he was quick to point out during his introductory press conference, the Warriors won just 25 games the year before he signed with them. Last season, with Jackson as head coach, the two men made it to the second round of the NBA playoffs. He reportedly has already began working out with current Cavalier point guard Kyrie Irving, attending an Irving-organized workout in Las Vegas prior to the beginning of the young All-Star’s practices with Team USA.

“For me, he was a joy to coach, an absolute joy to coach,” said Jackson. “I’ll have a relationship with him for the rest of our lives.

“The things that he does to protect the locker room, to protect the team, to make sure that you’re doing things the right way…he’s just incredible. It was the best money that the Cavs could have ever spent.”

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