The Clippers’ peanut-butter-and-jelly bites giveaway – meant as an appreciative gesture from PB&J aficionado Reggie Jackson to fans who have audibly supported him for much of his tenure in L.A. – got the veteran point guard thinking aloud Wednesday about those people.

“I’ve played for a lot of fanbases – or not a lot, but a few,” said Jackson, the 31-year-old who spent three-plus seasons in Oklahoma City before being traded to Detroit, where he played five more before the Pistons bought him out. That cleared a path to L.A., where he landed in February 2020, just before COVID-19 shut down everything.

“OKC was young and was a fun crowd. I played in Detroit, had some history there. But here, it’s been special,” Jackson said. “Especially (because) … this team is building their own identity, with Pat (Beverley), Montrezl (Harrell) and Lou (Williams). Then coming in and being part of that, the new wave with Paul (George) and Kawhi (Leonard), and just trying to stack upon that and continue to keep the identity going.”

Jackson – who was born in Italy, went to high school in Colorado and to college in Boston – said he discusses the Clippers’ local legacy with his teammates.

“Always talking in the locker room with the guys that they got a 50-year head start, the Lakers did,” Jackson said after Wednesday’s game, when his free throws with 12.3 seconds left – and the “Reg-gie” chants that followed – triggered a shower of snacks at Crypto.com Arena.

“I understand what it is in this city, it definitely is overwhelmed by Lakers fans. But I feel like Clippers Nation is like the heart. It truly is L.A. It’s more so. No shot to them over there, but they’re the lights. They’re bright lights. They’re Hollywood. That’s the Lakers. We kinda understood that. They’re the show. That’s what people called them for so long.

“But I feel like we’re definitely the heart of the city – or that’s something we want to embody.”

Jackson’s analysis evokes memories of the Clippers’ “Streetlights over Spotlights” marketing campaign of 2019-20, Leonard and George’s first season with the team. The related signage on billboards and buses throughout the region was panned back then by Lakers fans, especially when their team won that season’s championship in the Orlando bubble and the Clippers coughed up a 3-1 lead to Denver in their second-round playoff series.

Regardless, Jackson’s sentiments are heartfelt.

“We definitely want to show that we’re here for the people, play hard for the people,” said Jackson, who also gave those fans a 31-point, seven-assist performance to cheer Wednesday, when the Clippers beat Washington, 115-109 – and he reached the 9,000-point threshold for his career.

“We got a wide array of fans, a mixed group of fans, social, economic-wise, ethnicity-wise. We feel like we embody the city …

If you’re hungry at a Clipper game going forward (and don’t have a peanut allergy), the Clippers and @Reggie_Jackson have something tasty for you. pic.twitter.com/p3pKJQAVtV

— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) March 5, 2022

“We want to do something special here,” he continued. “Definitely want to be able to hoist a title at some point. And the way that they’ve embraced me through my ups and downs for my two and a half years here, (the peanut butter and jelly bites) were just something for me to give me back. When people do so much for you, you want to do something back in return. I’ve been blessed my whole life, and I figure if I’ve been blessed, I have to be a blessing.

“I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to Clipper Nation. No matter how long this ride goes on, they’ll always have a special place in my heart and I’ll forever be a Clipper.”

Coach Tyronn Lue – who began his career as a member of the Lakers, winning two championships in the purple and gold – steered clear of comparing the franchises.

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“I don’t know about that. I don’t know. I don’t really get into that, sorry,” Lue said. “Reggie can say what he wants, though, but … they have, what, 17 championships? So, that speaks for itself.

“But I like what we’re building here,” Lue added, with a nod to the front office and team ownership for bringing aboard players who fit the vibe Jackson described as the Clippers — who have beaten the Lakers in all seven meetings since Lue took the helm last season – pursue their first title.

“I like the culture we’re building here, I like the direction we’re going as an organization. Lawrence (Frank) and (Michael) Winger and Trent (Redden) and Mark Hughes and Mr. (Steve) Ballmer and just the direction we’re going, I love that.

“But, you know, that team has 17 championships.”

Reggie Jackson spent a few minutes postgame throwing Reggie Bites to fans and exited with heart hands for them. pic.twitter.com/XRFfBWlPJV

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 10, 2022