Stephen Jackson

At 46 years old, Stephen Jackson has this physical status:

Stephen Jesse Jackson (born April 5, 1978) is an American retired basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), including the New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Clippers.

In 2003, Jackson captured an NBA championship with the Spurs.

Early life

Jackson was born in Houston, Texas, and spent his childhood in Port Arthur, Texas. Jackson was raised in his childhood by his mother, Judyette, a single parent who worked two jobs. Jackson served in his grandfather's soul food restaurant in Port Arthur, where he would wash dishes and bus tables as an adolescent. After being jumped at the age of 16, Jackson's half-brother Donald Buckner died at the age of 25 years old from head injuries. Following the violent deaths, Jackson admitted that he wished he had been there to help and shield a member of his family. "You can't tell me that seeing his brother die in a way hasn't had no effect," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh says. "He's why he's always coming to the aid of his colleagues."

In his junior year, Jackson led Lincoln High School to a state championship. However, facing academic ineligibility at Lincoln, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy (Virginia), where he received All-America awards in 1996. He was the leading scorer in the 1996 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, with a team that included Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, and Tim Thomas.

Jackson was found academically ineligible after committing to the University of Arizona due to his low SAT and ACT test scores. He later attended Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, but did not play basketball there. Jackson appeared in several pickup games with the Phoenix Suns before family friend and fellow Arizona native Virginia Bibby (mother of NBA player Mike Bibby) welcomed him to the Suns arena during tryouts. Jackson's solid play, particularly his apprehension against the Suns Cedric Ceballos, is largely responsible for team president Danny Ainge's selection months later.

Personal life

Jackson has pleaded guilty to criminal responsibility in 2004 and 2006, including assault, unlawful conduct, and two counts of battery.

"I smoked my entire career" during Jackson's career, according to TMZ. He had a hell of a career. When asked by a reporter if the NBA should ban marijuana from their banned drug list, did not miss no games."

Jackson defended Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson for posting an anti-Semitic post on Instagram, which contained a quote incorrectly attributed to Adolf Hitler. After being chastised by Naismith Hall of Fame members, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Charles Barkley, Jackson apologised for his remarks, saying he "used the wrong words."

Jackson officially converted to Islam on January 6, 2021, which was the 2021 official conversion of the Islamic party. "I can honestly say that there is no one who loves Allah more than me," Jackson said in an interview. "Everything I have today is because I sit on my knees and pray five times a day," he said. If I didn't get on my knees and praise Allah, I wouldn't be able to wake up, breathe, and care for my child. Allah is the one in charge, and each and every one of us in creation is dependent on Allah at any and every moment. It's only when we learn this that this inner peace descends upon us. That's what Islam is all about, so it's about Salaam--that-peace."

What's a Lockout?, Jackson's alias Stak5, was released in December 2011 under the banner of Stak5 Music Group, hosted by DJ Scream of Maybach Music Group. Various artists, including hip-hop rapper Scarface, were among the mixtape's guests.

Imani Showalter, Jackson's ex-fiancée and mother of two of his children, was a cast member of Basketball Wives: Los Angeles, a reality show on American cable television network VH1.

Jackson spent a significant portion of his time in the Oakland area as part of his 7-game suspension, mostly targeting children. In addition, Jackson paid tribute to forward Matt Barnes and his ailing mother, whom he had left to help in his fight against cancer by wearing the number 22 on his headband. If Barnes wanted the help at home, Jackson also offered to postpone his release from jail. Jackson attended Bible study with colleagues including Kelenna Azubuike, Al Harrington, and Brandan Wright during his time in Golden State. The Warriors company, which is based in Detroit, Australia, organized an essay competition for elementary school students from his hometown of Port Arthur, which gave 10 third-graders the opportunity to meet Jackson and get tickets to the following night's game.

The NBA lauded Jackson for his continuing charitable work and awarded him with the league's Community Assist Award in March 2008. During the month, he participated in a Silence the Violence fundraiser, banded up with Grammy Award-winning John Legend to raise funds for the Show Me Campaign, appeared in a historic for a basketball court, and established his own charity. On April 11, 2008, Jackson introduced the Stephen Jackson Basketball Court at Omega Boys Club in San Francisco, California, in association with the Good Tidings Foundation. In addition, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom declared Saturday, April 12, 2008 – the day after the unveiling – as Stephen Jackson Day.

In the summer of 2008, Jackson founded the Stephen Jackson Academy of Art, Science, and Technology. New construction was completed in 2009; as of 2012, the academy also offers after-school programs for local children and houses a gymnasium for public use. Jackson intends to expand the academy in order to obtain educational accreditation. According to The Port Arthur News, new construction is expected to begin by the end of 2012.

Jackson, a close friend of George Floyd, who drew international notice after he was killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. Jackson spoke out in Minnesota for an empassioned speech he made at a protest rally. "I'm here because they're not going to disparage George Floyd, my twin's character," he said in the book. Due to their common physical appearance, Jackson and Floyd dubbed each other "winner" each other.

Jackson cited Malcolm X as "the most important reason for the continuation of Islam in the African-American community." "Every black man is influenced by Malcolm X," Jackson said. In some sense, you are influenced by Malcolm X, and Islam in some manner. I am of course influenced by Malcolm X for myself. It's impossible for me not to be, but I don't think I'm just following him. I want to be more than Malcolm X. Also when I say so, it could be damn near impossible if the guy was so unique. Malcolm X was so unique. I try to be like him or even better than him. I want to be the best respected American Muslim ever, and I want to be that. "I want to be that."

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Professional career

Jackson was drafted 42nd overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, but he did not participate because he was suspended by the team on October 30. Jackson played in six games with the La Crosse Bobcats over two on-and-off seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), in which he averaged 2.7 points in 12.7 minutes per game. In addition, Jackson appeared in four games with the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League in 1998. Jackson, who is now a basketball player, has played in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Jackson appeared in those Latin American countries, including Dominican Republic teams San Carlos and Pueblo Nuevo and Venezuelan Marinos, during the spring and summer of 2000. Jackson played 48 games and averaged 22.8 points (third in the league), 3.9 assists, and 3 steals per game, shooting 42.6% from three (second in the league).

Jackson did not play a single NBA game with the New Jersey Nets until the 2000-01 season, which was primarily his rookie season. He played in 77 games (including 40 games) in which he averaged 8.2 points per game and developed a close relationship with celebrity point guard Stephon Marbury and formed a close alliance. The Nets had no intention in retaining him.

He was signed by the San Antonio Spurs before the 2002 NBA season. Jackson was hampered by injuries and team pride in 2001, missing a total of 45 games in a relatively uneven rookie season. "In the first year we had him in San Antonio, he was on the (injured reserve) the majority of the year." We didn't understand why at first because he was obviously the most versatile player on that team, but we wanted to wait a little longer to see how he'd respond. He was the best teammate on our team the first year. He was excited at practice, ready to play and make the starters better, and it continued into his second year, when he had the opportunity to play and prove himself to be a vital piece of the team." His season averages were 3.9 points and 1.1 rebounds, with 9.9 minutes per game.

Jackson was a key member of the Spurs from 2002-2003. In 28.2 minutes per game, he appeared in 80 games (58 starts). Jackson was a key contributor during the Spurs' 2002 NBA Playoffs, winning their second NBA title while the team's 3rd leading scorer. In terms of individual results, Jackson's first foray into the playoffs had mixed success. Jackson vacillated between fourth quarter heroics and clutch shooting (elimination games of the Western Conference Finals versus the Dallas Mavericks and NBA Finals versus the New Jersey Nets) and uneven, mistake-prone play (26 turnovers in the 6-game championship series) throughout the year.

During the offseason, Jackson was declared a free agent and not expected to carry on his Spurs fame into a long-term contract. After denying an initial bid by the Spurs, his agent and his agent were chastised by sports media for miscalculating the market. Jackson later agreed to a two-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Jackson's best professional season to date, he has averages of 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in 80 total games (78 starts). Jackson scored a career-best 42 points against the Washington Wizards on March 12, the Washington Wizards. Jackson averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game in the 29 games following the All-Star Break. He was the NBA's 6th top scorer during this stretch.

Following his four-year contract with the Indiana Pacers, Al Harrington (who finished 2nd place in Sixth Man of the Year voting) was traded to the Indiana Pacers for power forward Al Harrington (who finished second in sixth Man of the Year voting) in 2004.

Jackson tallied 18.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during his first season as a member of the Indiana Pact in the 2004-05 NBA season.

Jackson was involved in a brawl with supporters in the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19, 2004. Jackson was suspended for 30 games without compensation in the aftermath, thereby losing $1.7 million in salary. He was also on probation for a year, fined $250, and told to take anger management classes and complete 60 hours of community service. His probation was postponed a year after he failed to fulfill the terms of his probation.

The suspension of starting small forward Ron Artest has stymied Indiana's once-promotioning post-season prospects. During the first round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics, Jackson averaged 18.9 points per game. The Detroit Pistons' second round loss ended their season, with Jackson leading the team in scoring during the playoffs at an average of 16.1 points per game.

Jackson appeared in 81 games for the Pacers, averaging 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. During a 31-point victory over the Sacramento Kings in midseason, Jackson made 3-pointers on four consecutive possessions, putting a dramatic display of his scoring skills. Jackson tied for the most 3-pointers in a quarter by an opponent. In the month of April, he averaged 20.2 points per game as the playoff campaign began.

On October 6, 2006, Jackson and three other Pacers players had a dispute with several others at Club Rio, a strip joint in Indianapolis. One of the patrons was yelled and was struck by a car, causing Jackson to fall onto the ground. His injuries were minor. Jackson, who was on probation in Michigan after pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and battery charges in the case of a brawl, fired multiple pistols from a 9-mm pistol, charging it as an act of self-defense. However, prosecutors later claimed he fired first. Jackson was charged with criminal responsibility, misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct on October 11, 2006. He pleaded guilty to a criminal responsibility conviction, received one year of probation, and was fined $500 and 100 hours of community service. Despite pleaded guilty to the offense, he was eligible for misdemeanor probation because he had no prior criminal convictions. He was banned from playing basketball for seven games starting at the 2007–08 NBA season as a Warrior with a disability.

In a blockbuster eight player trade, the Pacers cut Jackson to the Golden State Warriors on January 17, 2007. Jackson was traded for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Dioman, and Keith McLeod of the Warriors along with Al Harrington, nas Jasikevius, and Josh Powell.

In his Warriors debut, January 20, 2007, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jackson had 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. Golden State defeated the Indiana Pacers 113-98 on February 5, when he tallied 36 points and led the Warriors to a 113-98 victory over Jackson's former team. Jackson signed Vince Carter and Dominique Wilkins as the only players in 25 years to score 30 or more against a team that didn't play for earlier in the season.

Jackson received both positive and critical buzz in his Warriors 4–2 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. Jackson was suspended from Games 2 and 5 in what some believe to be the biggest upset in NBA history. Jackson's second call, Game 5, was largely criticized because he seemed to be only applauding at the end of the game to lift the spirits of his teammates rather than sarcastically at a referee. However, Jackson recovered himself by playing well throughout the series, especially in Game 6, where Jackson scored 33 points on a then-record 7 three-pointers. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have since tied or beat 25 times in this team's playoff record.

Baron Davis, who sustained a minor hamstring injury in the 1st quarter of Game 6, shares his thoughts about Jackson: "I told him (Stephen Jackson) I'll give it all I got, and I don't want to be the hardest worker out there." He had to carry me. He is the head of this team, and if you ask anyone on this team, he is the team's heart and soul. He is a big-game performer, and he knew how important this game was. He is the only one on our team to win a championship, so we'll have to feed him."

Jackson finished the series with per-game averages of 22.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals. The Warriors were defeated by a physical Utah Jazz team in 5 games in the Conference Semifinals. Jackson's offensive tandem, Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring, was unsatisfied, and his overall performance decreased from the previous series.

Jackson (along with guard Baron Davis and forward Matt Barnes) was named a Warriors team captain prior to the 2007–08 NBA season. Jackson received the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week award (November 26 – December 2), averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 steals. Despite winning 48 games, the Warriors fell out of playoffs in a Western Conference in which all eight playoff teams won at least 50 games (Their 48 victories are the most of a team in NBA history that did not qualify for playoffs).

Jackson played at least 30 points and 10 assists in a five-game stretch from LeBron James in 2007, the first NBA player to do so since LeBron James in 2007, and the first member of the Warriors since Tim Hardaway in 1992. On February 4, he recorded his first triple double (31 points, 11 rebounds, and ten assists) against the Phoenix Suns, in the midst of this stretch. Jackson signed a three-year contract extension with the Warriors on November 17, 2008.

Jackson's campaign ended in 2009 when he tried to find the root cause of his left foot's illness, which had been ailing him for more than two years. He underwent surgery on March 31, 2009 to remove multiple bone spurs above the nerve tissue under his big toe. His per-game averages were 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists (2nd only to LeBron James for forwards), 1.5 steals, and 39.6 minutes (2nd in the league, behind only Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks).

Jackson was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats and Acie Law in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovi. On January 12, 2010, Jackson set a Bobcats franchise record of 43 points scored against the Houston Rockets. On January 17, the NBA named Jackson as the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week after he averaged 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 steals. Jackson, a forward, led the Bobcats to their first playoff appearance (culminating in a 4–0 series loss at the Orlando Magic). Jackson finished in 12th place in league MVP voting, tied with Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, and Chauncey Billups.

Jackson made his first triple double (24 points, 10 rebounds, and ten assists) in Bobcats team history against the Phoenix Suns on November 20, 2010. Following Gerald Wallace's midseason trade, Jackson was unable to lead the Bobcats to the playoffs in 2011 and expressed disappointment with the team.

Jackson was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in June 23, 2011, following only two seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats. The Milwaukee Bucks received Jackson, Shaun Livingston, the right to the 19th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Tobias Harris of Charlotte, and Beno Udrih from Sacramento as part of the deal. Charlotte picked Corey Maggette from Milwaukee and the rights to the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Bismack Biyombo from Sacramento. The 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft was John Salmons from Milwaukee and the rights to Jimmer Fredette.

Jackson's brief stay in Milwaukee would be characterized by chaos and underwhelming play. Jackson's role and playing time were reduced as a result of regular injuries with his hamstring during the lockout-extended offseason and several publicized clashes with coach Scott Skiles. Jackson and Andrew Bogut were traded back to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown on March 13, 2012.

Jackson was traded to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson, T.J. Ford, and a conditional first round pick on March 15, 2012, despite being in the Warriors. For the first time in nearly ten years, Kawhi Leonard, the rookie forward, was a second-unit player. Jackson's minutes in the regular season and playoffs would vary due to a re-adjustment period to San Antonio's organized offensive system.

The Spurs capped off a good regular season by qualifying for the Western Conference Playoffs as the highest seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. In the Western Conference Finals, San Antonio lost 4 games to 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jackson received acclaim for his defensive efforts against league scoring champion Kevin Durant. Jackson scored on his first six three-point attempts in the elimination game of the series. Jackson shot 55% from the field, 60% from three-point range, and 93 percent from the free throw line for the playoffs.

Jackson was fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing Serge Ibaka on December 9, 2012. "Stephen Jackson's latest public remarks are clearly intolerable, cannot be tolerated, and do not represent the San Antonio Spurs' high quality," Spurs general manager R.C. said. Buford is a British writer who writes about Buford.

Jackson was waived by the Spurs on April 12, 2013.

He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on December 10, 2013. Jackson had trouble with the Clippers. He shot a career-low 1.7 points per game in nine games, while shooting 23.1 percent from the field and 7.1% from three-point range. He was waived by the Clippers on January 7, 2014.

Jackson resigned on July 22, 2015. Jackson made more than $68.6 million in salary over his 14-year NBA career (not including his time with the Clippers, in which his deal was not guaranteed).

Podcasting career

Jackson is the current host of the digital video podcast "All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson." Showtime Basketball's YouTube channel and other audio stores such as iTunes and Spotify have the audio podcast. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade, J. R. Smith, Dwyane Wade, DeMarcus Cousins, Stephen A. Smith, Draymond Green, Deion Sanders, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant have appeared on the program. Bryant's last exclusive interview before his death was recorded on the podcast. Malka Media and Showtime Networks produced the show.

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