On Thursday, the Phoenix Suns fined second-year shooting guard Josh Jackson $20,000 for missing an autograph event.

Friday, Jackson met with local reporters to address what happened. The high-flyer said he got a call right before the event and had to “rush over” to his mom's house, via Duane Rankin of AZCentral:

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This should take some of the Heat off of Josh Jackson. He was getting criticized on Thursday by local and national pundits for blowing off the event. Now that we know he had to tend to his mother, it explains why he wasn't at the event.

It's interesting that the Suns still fined Jackson. Was the organization not aware Jackson had to be with his mom? Who knows. The good thing is that this incident is in the past and both parties are moving on from it.

In 62 games this season for the Suns, Josh Jackson is averaging 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. The 22-year-old swingman is shooting 41.6 percent from the field, 29.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 67.1 percent from the free-throw line.

Jackson was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of the University of Kansas. Phoenix entered Friday with a record of 12-50 on the season, last place in the NBA.