Basketball: Jackson full steam ahead

Cedric Jackson put on a show for his parents in the game against Melbourne on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Energetic American unwilling to rest as he rallies the troops to keep the pressure on

He's coming off a triple-double, his parents are in town and he leads the league's best team - life is pretty good for Cedric Jackson.

But that didn't stop the point guard from getting "grumpy" at practice yesterday, unwilling to rest after taking the Breakers back to the top of the Australian NBL.

Jackson thought training had started out a little slow, as if the Breakers had glanced down from the top of the ladder and eased the foot off the accelerator. So he upped the intensity, increased the competitiveness and began talking trash.

"He came in with a little bit of a grumpy attitude, which really lifted practice and made people compete," said coach Dean Vickerman. "We were a little slow to start today but he got the quality up."

It's just one example of the aggressive ambition the Breakers have raved about since Jackson first walked back into the gym in preseason - a level of drive that sees the 28-year-old record the club's second triple-double one week and ride his teammates the next.

"We're rolling pretty well but there are always things we can work on," Jackson said. "That's the good thing about our team - we're still pretty humble and we're always here working out, getting shots and watching film."

The most recent film session must have provided pleasant viewing for the former league MVP. By grabbing 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Melbourne on Sunday, Jackson became the only player in the past nine years to record multiple triple-doubles in the ANBL.

Jackson shrugged off the feat after the initial afterglow had worn off, mentioning assistant coach Paul Henare's 300th game with the club in the same week as heritage round, an occasion recognising the players who helped shape what the Breakers now represent.

But the American will certainly be a prominent part of such celebrations in years to come, a standing that has arrived after he made the "no-brainer" decision to return to Auckland following a stint in Europe.

"It means a lot," he said. "All my hard work is paying off. I'm in a great place that takes care of you, and I've got to give a lot of credit to this club. We have a great group of guys ... And we have a great balance - there's a time to work and a time to enjoy yourselves."

Jackson's own balance has been tested this week, with his parents spending the week in New Zealand to take in a couple of games. The first resulted in a momentous night and Vickerman joked that Jackson must provide a triple-double for each parent. So, can he deliver?

"I'm not looking forward to it, man," he said. "I'm just trying to win. If that opportunity comes, then it'll come. I go into the games not looking to pad my stats. As long as we get the win, I'm satisfied. But if I do get that, it'll be a nice little blessing."

The Breakers have been boosted by positive news regarding the stricken Alex Pledger. The tear to the centre's big toe has shown no signs of further deterioration and Pledger has a positive outlook for the remainder of the season, after which he requires surgery.