The Charlotte Bobcats have some serious momentum. They’ve climbed into seventh place in the East (which is still the East, I know) behind winning seven of their last eight games. They rank in the top ten in each of the defensive four factors (eFG% allowed, opponents’ FT/FGA, DRB%, opponents’ TOV%), are on their way to their first ever playoff appearance, and should boast their first ever All-Star in Gerald Wallace.

Oh, and the team happens to have a new face, a new core, and a new leader: Stephen Jackson.

When the ‘Cats netted Jackson for 50 cents on the dollar, analysts focused on Charlotte’s coffers. It’s natural, really; Stephen Jackson has what has to be one of the worst contracts remaining in a league shifting toward fiscal responsibility, and his history of wearing out his welcome likely makes cutting that paycheck even more difficult three years from now. A Jackson implosion was seen as an inevitability, and from a financial standpoint, a small market club had made a terrible mistake by agreeing to take on such a high-risk, high-paying salary.

But here’s the thing: even though the NBA is ultimately a league obsessed with known finality, Jax has flipped the franchise on its head while energizing a fan base the Bobcats didn’t even know they had. If the ‘Cats make the playoffs over the next two or three years, who cares if Jackson butts heads with Larry Brown? He would be creating history for a team that has little, and while nothing with Jackson ever seems permanent, that doesn’t mean it’s not significant.

Veterans with close ties to just one team are revered and this league, with their jerseys raised to the rafters. But guys like Jax? They make cameos in team lore all across the league — from the Bay to San Antone — by making valuable contributions in a number of different ways in a number of different places.

Jackson isn’t likely to retire an NBA immortal, and there’s certainly a chance he’ll be out of favor in Charlotte in due time. But the fact that Jax isn’t a basketball establishment is exactly why the ‘Cats are a must-watch team right now for hoops junkies. Think back to the 2007 Warriors, with Baron and Jax leading the charge and grinning ear-to-ear. Did anyone honestly think their magical playoff run would produce any lasting success? That Don Nelson would make a few moves and make a serious run at a championship? That a roster of ill-fitting parts, egos, and swingmen galore would break down basketball convention forever? Hardly. The Dubs earned their place in history by upsetting the Mavs, but when it came time to pick winners for the Western Conference Semis, the Jazz were the obvious favorite. Golden State didn’t quite fizzle, but the burst was surely gone…and yet, the “We Believe” Warriors are one of the more resonant teams of the decade, despite the fact that they were doomed from the start.

And it’s very much the same with these Bobcats. I don’t expect Jackson to lead Charlotte to the title, but that’s not a reason to disregard his success or the team’s. Knowing that this will all eventually end only makes this era in Bobcats basketball that much more precious, and that much more real. What we have no is a Bobcats team giving its usual complete effort, but with enough offense and enough leadership to channel that effort into something productive. It has the Bobcats on the brink of something great rather than staring down into the chasm. And while that may not mean much next to the storied exploits of the Lakers or Celtics, it means just about everything for a young franchise without a traditional superstar and little in terms of direction. Jackson is trying to fill both roles, and in all honesty, is the closest thing to a rudder that the Bobcats organization has ever had.

Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow, because today’s Bobcats are simply too good, too hard-working, and too fun for you to ignore. Part of that is Larry Brown, who has this team playing with incredible effort and executing beautifully on the defensive end. Part of that is Gerald Wallace, who has become an absolute monster. But an undeniable part of that is Stephen Jackson, the man who was supposed to be jumping the shark (not passing lanes), destroying roster flexibility (not providing some), and crushing a team from within (not bringing it to new heights).