Mark Jackson Biography

Fast Facts

• Won the Haggerty Award presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association in 1987
• A licensed minister, he began serving as a pastor at True Love Worship Center International in Van Nuys, Calif
• Attended St․ John's University, where he totaled a school record 738 assists
• After seeing singer Desiree Coleman on television for the first time, he turned to his roommate and told him he had found his wife even though he'd never met the woman; the two were married in 1990
• Played college basketball with future Olympian and NBA All-Star Chris Mullin
• Played in a Catholic youth basketball league while he was growing up
• Quote: "[on his congregation] "These people don't care about anything I've done or will do in basketball․ They'd kill for me because of what I've done at this church in the past two years․""
• After retiring from the NBA, he worked as a broadcast commentator and analyst for sports shows, and even tried his hand at acting in the film "Eddie․"
• While playing in the NBA, he was known for his "tear drop" shots, which he used to shoot over larger defenders
• During NBA games, he wore his wedding ring tied to his shoelaces