HoopsHype.com Rumors

That first Dallas season also featured the defining Jerry Stackhouse, Tough Guy story. It happened after Utah rookie Kirk Snyder took a cheap shot at him under the basket during a game. Stackhouse retaliated with one of his own. Both men thought they were even. Nope. They bumped into each other a few plays later and … well, Stackhouse can explain the rest. "Boom, he punched me in the stomach with an open fist," Stackhouse said, incredulously. "I was like, 'OK, I can go crazy right now and get suspended for two or three games and lose this money.' The smart side of me said, 'No, I'm not going to do that. But I'm going to get this boy.' You don't put your hands on me. I can deal with a lot of verbal stuff and wolfing and all that, but you put your hands on me, no. And I thought I had cleaned it up, but obviously I hadn't." When the game ended, Stackhouse recalls asking the training staff for a warm-up suit, then waiting on the docks where Utah's bus would depart. "I ain't even shower," Stackhouse recalls. "I put on some sweats, some sneakers, and I went and stood in the tunnel. As soon as [Snyder] came out, I fired on him. I got in a couple. That was it. I don't know where all these security people came from. It probably lasted 20 seconds. Everybody pulled me off and that was it." Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Jerry Stackhouse, Kirk Snyder 

On the day of the second Nets-Knicks game in December, Wallace finally talked — barely. Asked if he was proud of his and Stackhouse's longevity, Wallace responded, "Hell yeah. We just know how to take care of our bodies doing what we do.12 We've had damn near every injury you can have happen to us throughout our career. But you've got to stay with it, know how to take care of your body. You can't take it for granted." Nor will Wallace take his comeback for granted. "I'm glad to see that I still have a lot of fans left in the basketball world," he said. "There's been a lot of people on the streets, when I'm out at restaurants or off of the basketball court, a lot of people say they're glad to see me back — to see, I guess, real basketball, post play and this and that, depending on who the fan is. It's a good thing, though. I'm not downplaying it or anything. It's definitely good." Grantland

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse 

Vincent Goodwill: It ain't too many fighters in the league, but if it's a fighter in NY, I'm taking @Jerry Stackhouse. Two piece and a biscuit specials Twitter @vgoodwill

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

“I think he’s the logical choice,” Nets guard Jerry Stackhouse said. “He’s been in a lot of big-time situations. That’s who he is. If I’m an owner or a general manager and I’m going to make a coaching change, he’d definitely be the first guy I’d see if he had any interest.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jerry Stackhouse 

No question, it is a simpler proposition for a non-Christian like me to say bah, humbug to those who have attacked the N.B.A. for turning Christmas into basketball’s version of a “Star Trek” marathon. So let’s allow Stackhouse to counter the righteousness of the argument with an appropriate dose of realism. “At the end of the day, when the licensing checks are rolling in, we’re all in line,” he said. “Everybody should be all in. It helps our brand.” New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

Josh Newman: The #Nets announce Jerry Stackhouse (sore right knee) and Josh Childress (sore left foot) are out for tonight's game vs Utah Twitter @Joshua_Newman

Brooklyn Nets, Josh Childress, Injuries, Jerry Stackhouse 

Jerry Stackhouse: Smh...Not the right forum“@USATODAYsports: Kevin Durant played with a hand-written "Newtown, CT" on his shoes: Twitter @jerrystackhouse

Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Jerry Stackhouse, Connecticut 

What motivates you at this point in your career? Jerry Stackhouse: I just like to play. Just being able to continue to beat my kids. To make sure they can never kick my butt. They’re getting to that point. My AAU team, I watch these kids get better and better. Now they’re 16, 17 years old, becoming men, and I just like getting out there with them and competing. I think that’s kind of my motivation when I get out there with them and keep myself in shape. And when it start time to get back with the pros in September when guys start working out again, that’s when I test myself. I know if I’m out there and I’m still able to compete, then I know I’ll be able to compete at this level. The Score

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

But Stack has a secret. It’s Taaj Jaharah, an innovative New York trainer and therapist whose work on agility and flexibility basically throughout his career helped Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play until he was 42 and at a high level. “I have worked with him (Stackhouse) since his rookie year in Philly,” Jaharah said in an email. “He has been fastidious in his desire to continue to retrain and to maintain his ease of movement, a truly dedicated athlete. They don't last 18 years in the league without that.” It’s a great lesson for young kids. Players like Abdul-Jabbar and Stackhouse realized when they were kids that training their bodies for that sort of flexibility would extend their career. They probably never realized how long. And this at a time whether to just keep busy more players than ever seem to want to continue their careers. There are eight players at least 38 with the return of Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Derek Fisher and Grant Hill and Kurt Thomas over 40. NBA.com

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

Johnson has assured Stackhouse that he’ll coach at least one practice this season. The goal is to become an assistant under Johnson, but Stackhouse — who was drafted at No. 3 in 1995 by the 76ers and later traded by current Nets GM Billy King — said he won’t retire until he can no longer dunk. “If I get it on the break, I’m going to dunk it,” Stackhouse said. “I’m not going to dunk it like I did in ’95, but I’m still dunking. That’s kind of my barometer. When I come down the court and I don’t feel like I can still jump and dunk the ball anymore, yeah, it’s time for Stackhouse to retire.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jerry Stackhouse 

The veteran guard said Monday he plans on assuming the role of a player/coach this season, with hopes of establishing a career on the bench under the familiar tutelage of Avery Johnson. It’s no wonder the Nets didn’t hire another assistant coach. “I never thought I’d want to coach, but now I kind of want to transition into that, kind of learning from (Johnson),” Stackhouse said. “I know he’ll allow me to assume some of the responsibilities this year. I think a lot of coaches would be threatened by that, but he’s comfortable enough to let me earn my way while I’m playing. “It’s kind of an ideal situation for me. Hopefully I can grow with this group past my actual playing days. Stackhouse, who’ll turn 38 in March, signed a one-year deal this summer with the Nets, his eighth team in an 18-year career. He played under Johnson for four years in Dallas, and plotted on a reunion after Johnson was hired by Mikhail Prokhorov. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Jerry Stackhouse 

Stefan Bondy: Also as @Jerry Stackhouse discussed on Twitter, he'll be the first pro athlete in Brooklyn to wear #42 since Jackie Robinson. Pretty cool. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

Williams is renting in SoHo while shopping for a permanent home, preferably one with easy tunnel access. He will have company. Joe Johnson, the Nets’ newly acquired All-Star guard, forward Kris Humphries and guard Jerry Stackhouse will all be living in Manhattan as well. Seven Nets will reside in New Jersey, including the rookie Tyshawn Thomas, who got an apartment in Hoboken, his hometown. (Two others, Mirza Teletovic and Tornike Shengelia, are playing overseas and have not yet shopped for homes, but they are likely to end up in New Jersey, too.) New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Kris Humphries, Jerry Stackhouse, Mirza Teletovic, New Jersey, Tornike Shengelia 

The signing would give the Nets 12 players under contract, as they also inked Jerry Stackhouse on Monday. They still need to re-sign Kris Humphries, which a source reiterated Monday was in the works, and find a center to back up Brook Lopez. They’re looking at veteran Nazr Mohammed, a source told the News. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Kris Humphries, Nazr Mohammed, Jerry Stackhouse, Brook Lopez 

Jonathan Abrams: Nets make the signing of Jerry Stackhouse official. Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Jerry Stackhouse 

Jerry Stackhouse: Officially a member of The Brooklyn Nets... NYC here we come!!! #NBA Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Jerry Stackhouse 

General Manager Billy King said a deal with Humphries was “close,” but added, “It’s a process.” He also confirmed that the Nets were working on a deal with Jerry Stackhouse, the veteran guard. New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Kris Humphries, Billy King, Jerry Stackhouse 

Tim Bontemps: Brooks: "I want to talk to Jerry (Stackhouse). When I was young I went to a Hawks game and he didn’t sign my autograph. He told me no. I remember that." Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Jerry Stackhouse 

“I still feel like I can get out on the floor, stretch the floor, hit a couple open 3s. ... With the guys they have there’s going to be a few available,” Stackhouse said. “There’s not gonna be a shortage of guys ready to knock down open shots when they’re getting so much attention. So hopefully I can still do that a little bit and be a veteran in the locker room. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Jerry Stackhouse 

“I think it’s a team that went from the bottom and has a chance to go to the top really fast,” Stackhouse said. “Plus, where I want to go and trying to transition to the next level of coaching, I can’t have a better mentor than Avery.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Avery Johnson, Jerry Stackhouse