DENVER, CO – The 2023 NBA Finals are tipping off on Thursday, June 1st, with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Miami Heat in Game 1. Fans of the Los Angeles Clippers, however, will likely be more invested in this series thanks for former guard Reggie Jackson.

The Clippers traded Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets in the deal that sent Mason Plumlee to Los Angeles on February 9th. Charlotte waived Jackson on February 12th. He then signed with the top-seeded Nuggets almost immediately after he cleared waivers on February 14th.

Jackson has only played in 16 regular-season games and made five playoff appearances since joining Denver. However, he has remained ready and a constant positive energy guy for a Nuggets team eyeing the Larry O'Brien trophy.

With Denver being just four wins away from the NBA Championship, a lot of Clippers fans on social media have rallied behind Denver in order to see Reggie Jackson as well as DeAndre Jordan win their first title. Jackson says the love is mutual.

“It's all love, always,” Jackson told ClutchPoints at NBA Finals Media Day. “It's like a second home. Love the organization, very appreciative. I don't know, it's a toss up as far as best weather. I'm pretty blessed to be here and amazing sun and skies and being in L.A. and build a second home there. So I'm always appreciative of my time there. Love the fanbase, love the organization. Still root for the guys and always gonna be rooting for them except for the 2, 3, 4 times a year, that's the only time I want y'all to lose.”

Reggie Jackson joined the Clippers as a buyout signing during the 2019-20 season. This was just a few weeks before the NBA shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson would go on to quickly win over Clippers fans with his play in the 2021 playoffs after Kawhi Leonard's ACL injury. Jackson averaged 17.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 48.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.8 percent from three. It went to another level during the 2021-22 season when Paul George missed 51 games and Leonard didn't play a game.

Jackson's bond with the fanbase was so strong, he and the Clippers joined to make “Reggie Jackson Bites,” which were small peanut butter and jelly cookies commemorating Reggie's favorite pregame snack that fans could enjoy as well.

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“For sure, I'm still staying in touch,” Jackson added. “Just wishing me the best of luck and also checking on guys, seeing how they're doing. Wishing my boy Norm a happy birthday. It's a happy belated two days ago. Just trying to stay in touch with the organization, guys like that, coaches. Happy belated to my boy Beau. Just keeping great relationships.”

The Nuggets are big favorites to win the NBA Championship, which would be the first in the franchise's history. Reggie Jackson previously reached the Finals in 2012 as a rookie with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He said he now has a new appreciation for reaching the biggest stage once again.

“It's great. It's been 11 years removed for myself being in the Finals, just exciting especially to be at home and be part of this team. Just feel blessed to be welcomed where I was when I came over. We're glad that it's finally here. It's been a long time waiting.

“[It's definitely] a different appreciation. I think I appreciate them all. You just try to live in the moment and enjoy it, but yeah, being a little bit older and being removed so long, a little bit different appreciation for it.”

Jackson averaged 7.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 38.3 percent shooting from the field during the regular season with Denver.