Stephen Jackson: Suspended Animation
Stephen Jackson rejoined the Warriors last Sunday after completing his seven-game suspension for pleading guilty to a felony charge of criminal recklessness. His return could not have come sooner for the struggling team. The spiritual leader of last season's NBA Cinderella story takes being team captain very seriously. Jackson also asks that we cut Baron Davis' beard some slack, and explains how leadership can come in the form of two diamond watches when nobody's looking.
Ron Turenne, NBAE / Getty Images
Stephen Jackson, known for his effort on both ends of the court, says he'll go out of his way "for anybody I work with" because he never knows when he'll need a hand.
DAVE HOLLANDER: Welcome back. You must be ready to play by now.
STEPHEN JACKSON: That’s what I do: play basketball. Not be being able to do my job has definitely been frustrating. But to look at it in a positive light, it's been something I've been dealing with the for the last year and it's finally over.
DH: How does it feel to be named Warriors' captain?
SJ: It's one of the biggest accomplishments you can get in the NBA besides making the all-star team or winning the championship. I'm humbled by it. This is the best league of basketball in the world. So to be a captain of a team in that league means I must be doing something right.
DH: Now that you're the captain of the Golden State Warriors maybe you can explain why so many people are consumed with Baron Davis' beard?
SJ: A lot of people have problems worrying about something they can't control. Baron is his own person and he feels comfortable with his beard. I think it fits him. And I think a lot of people wear beards now because of Baron. But that's his own thing. If he likes it, I love it.
DH: So the team backs his beard 100%?
SJ: Nobody around here makes a big deal about it. It's just a lot of people on the news -- even the rapper Rick Ross. I don’t make big deal about it. It's just Baron.
DH: You'll get no complaints from fans at the Oracle Center. They'd love you guys, beards or no beards.
SJ: If I could have my whole family come to the game and fill up the whole place, that's how feels with Warriors fans. They're just so supportive of the organization. And this is a loyal city -- with the Raiders, A’s and the Warriors. You know, you can come to Texas sometimes and you got more Yankees fans than Astros fans. Here it's definitely not like that. The fans are great.
DH: It's the press, not the fans, who are worried about Golden State's slow start. But just like last season, isn't this just another incident of pundits underestimating the Warriors?
SJ: I understand it because nobody expected us to start off (0-6). But remember, Phoenix and Dallas started 0-5 last year. We have a lot of games left. We have a whole bunch of young guys trying to get accustomed to the NBA game. I haven't played the first seven games. We've got guys who are hurt. It's a downer, for sure, but we still got plenty chances to turn this thing around and we are definitely gonna do that.
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers smiles during practice in El Segundo, Calif., Saturday, June 14, 2008. The Celtics face the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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Boston Celtics Paul Pierce talks to the media before practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, works with Pau Gasol, of Spain, during practice in El Segundo, Calif., Saturday, June 14, 2008. The Lakers and the Boston Celtics meet in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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Los Angeles Lakers', from left, Kobe Bryant, Vladimir Radmanovic, and head coach Phil Jackson, look on during basketball practice in El Segundo, Calif., Saturday, June 14, 2008. The Lakers face the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Sunday.(AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, works with Pau Gasol, right, of Spain, and Andrew Bynum, during practice in El Segundo, Calif., Saturday, June 14, 2008. The Lakers play the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talks to the media after practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California, June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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Boston Celtics Paul Pierce talks to the media before practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California, June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett talks to the media before practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett talks to the media before practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers talks to the media before practice for the NBA Finals basketball championship in El Segundo, California June 14, 2008. The Boston Celtics lead the best-of-seven game series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES)
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DH: Why do you love defense so much?
SJ: Because I love the game. I'm very humble about my job and what I do. There's a lot of people that wish that they could play basketball and make the type of money we make and be able to take care of their families like that. I've been blessed to be one of them. So I play the game with respect and passion. Whether it's offense or defense, I give it my all.
DH: Nobody will forget you holding MVP Dirk Nowitzki to eight points in Game 6 last year. Do people not give enough credit to Don Nelson’s defensive schemes?
SJ: He's just a great guy playing chess with other coaches and teams. He knows how to coach us along and knows how to get in other coaches' heads. He knows how to throw them off -- changing offenses and defenses. We're probably the only team that regardless of who we have on the court, if there's a mismatch, Coach finds a way to get him the ball.
DH: He knew how to get inside the head of his old team the Mavericks?
SJ: Coach knows those guys better than anybody from coaching them. He coached Dirk for a while. He gave us key hints to use. But at the end of the day I think it was us going out there and playing harder than them. That's how we won.
DH: Lest people forget, you were a vital piece of Spurs second NBA championship, averaging 12.8 points per game during the playoffs. You've got a ring. How much does that mean to other guys in the Warriors' locker room?
SJ: That's the reason I have a lot respect on this team -- because I’ve been to the highest level you can get to. A lot of guys play this game and never get to experience being in the finals or winning the championship. When players come across someone who's been at the level it's like "Wow, I want to experience that." And you definitely get respect because it's hard. One of the hardest things to do is to earn the right to say you were a champion. "The best in the world" -- how many times can you say that?
DH: So many people from Tim Duncan to Rick Carlisle to Don Nelson say that you are the ultimate teammate. What are the little things that teammates do for each other that fans and reporters will never see?
SJ: For example we had two rookies last year, Kelenna Azubuike and Josh Powell. When the older guys go out to eat, we all had nice jewelry, which made these young guys feel out of place. So I went out and bought them diamond watches. It was my welcome to the NBA to make them feel comfortable. Little stuff like that a lot of people don't need to see because it's about me keeping my teammates as a family. Look, I spend more time with these guys than my own family. So I want everyone to feel like they belong. And I don't mind people not knowing about that kinda stuff because I wouldn't want the credit for it.
DH: How much of that sense of family came from when your days washing dishes at your grandfather's soul food restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas?
SJ: That's exactly where it comes from. My grandfather was the backbone of my family. He had nine kids and no telling how many grandchildren. He made sure that if anybody was in a bind, he was there for them. When he passed, I kind of took on that role in my family. It carried over into my job and everyday life. I'll go out of my way for anybody I work with because I know I'm going to need them as much as they're going to need me.
DH: Is that restaurant still there in Port Arthur?
SJ: It's not open now because the hurricane destroyed the building. But we're in the process of getting it back open.
DH: I'm always hungry. What's the name of this joint and what would I order when I get there?
SJ: It’s called Jackson & Company. We have specials for each day. Monday we might have fried chicken; Tuesday smothered pork chops; Wednesday meatloaf; Thursday something else. Everybody looks forward to Friday because it's catfish day.
DH: When you lived in Indianapolis, what was it like being next door neighbors with Tony Dungy?
SJ: It was cool, man. Tony Dungy is one of the most stand-up guys -- a family man. I remember when I was suspended for the brawl in Detroit, he took some time out of his day to come over and talk to me. He encouraged me to keep my head up. He told me that things do happen, but that at the end of the day you have a chance to change things. You know, regardless of his status and who he is, he still takes the time out to worry about other people. That's kind of the way I see the world, too. We got along real well.
DH: He wasn't the kind of guy who was always borrowing your tools?
SJ: If anything I was always running over to his backyard to jump on his trampolines. He had three trampolines in his backyard!
DH: Who is your next door neighbor now?
SJ: I live in the same building with my coach and some of my teammates. It’s real close, bro.
DH: You’ve got a huge tattoo on your stomach of two praying hands holding a gun in front of church. You gotta explain that one to me.
SJ: When I got into the trouble last year at the strip club and I had to shoot my gun, so when I got out of court and after I had done all my community service, I prayed to God to never have to use that gun again. That's when the tattoo design popped into my head. My tattoo artist came down and we were looking at some pictures. For some reason he had this drawing on his computer. It was meant to be.
DH: You also sport a jack of diamonds on your back, and a bunch of other imagery in between. Body art is big in the Bay Area. What’s next for you?
SJ: I'm gonna get some pictures of my two nephews and my niece. And I think I might go for my sisters' and brothers' names, too.
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Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! Info
at: www.davehollander.com
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