Today, Stephen Jackson is mostly recognized for his work in sports media. Appearing all across different mediums, including his own podcast with Matt Barnes, Jackson has found a lot of success in his post-NBA life.
But it wasn’t long ago that Jackson himself was on the court, proving his worth and value over 14 seasons in the league.
Looking back, while Jackson had many memorable moments as a pro, one of his most defining moments was his second exit from the San Antonio Spurs, which was highly controversial at the time. An aging Jackson left the team in 2003 after his role progressively diminished.
But in a recent chat with NBA Insider Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, the former NBA big man got real on his time there and explained in further detail the motivation behind his fiery exit.
“I knew Pop was a good coach but I didn’t 100% trust him because I know he had three people he cared about: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker. I knew I wasn’t one of his guys, so I made it work for me. I got a ring out of the situation and I bounced,” said Jackson candidly. “They tried to lowball me and give Ginobili the money. So, I have all the respect for Pop for giving me that opportunity but San Antonio was not a place for me. As you see, I left San Antonio and had better years. That system wasn’t meant for my game. I’m glad I left. I’m thankful for the Championship but I’m glad I was able to leave San Antonio and be the best player I could be cause I wouldn’t have been that had I stayed there.”
Stephen Jackson played just 59 games for the Spurs before calling it quits in 2003, just weeks after winning the title. He never did end up winning another Championship, but he would go on to build an exceptional career with averages of 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 41% shooting.
Stephen Jackson Wasn’t The Only One Who Rubbed Shoulders With Pop
Jackson felt underappreciated and undervalued by the Spurs, which could be due to the preferential treatment of their big three Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.
Interestingly, however, Stephen Jackson isn’t the only one who has problems with Pop. Dennis Rodman also had some things to say about the man after his short stint with the Spurs.
In the end, nobody can deny that the Spurs have been among the league’s most successful franchises in recent NBA history. Thanks to the heroics of their legendary big three, they built a dynasty that was great for nearly two decades.
But it seems like the Spurs may have burned some bridges in the process, and one has to wonder how different things might have turned out had they paid a little more attention to everybody else.
Source: fadeawayworld
