Stephen Jackson isn’t one to hold back, as he proved on a recent episode of “The Dan LeBatard Show.”
Capt. Jack revealed that he was disrespected by one of the most highly regarded coaches in basketball, during his second stint for the San Antonio Spurs back in 2013.
According to Jackson, Gregg Popovich asked him to name two other players that were better than him, which he refused to do. Jackson believes that was the reason he was waived just before the post-season began that year, via News4SanAntonio:
“In San Antonio when I was asked to say other players were better than me to help their confidence so they can play better. That was the most disrespectful thing that I've ever heard from any coach in my life. But at the same time was dealing with the smartest coach I ever met in my life.”
“I want you to basically admit that these guys are better than you and we need them going forward to the playoffs. And I would not do it,” expanded Jackson on his talk with Pop.
“That's when I got waived right before the playoffs in San Antonio. He [Popovich] asked me to do it and I told him I could not do it.
“I walked out.”
The two players in question were 3-point specialist Danny Green and Spurs legend Manu Ginobili, Jackson confirmed:
“It's simple Danny Green and Manu Ginobili. They were playing ahead of me. Ginobili was playing like trash at the time, turning the ball over all over the place.”
“I just felt like he [Popovich] should've played me.”
If true, it’s a strange move from Pop. Jackson was an intense competitor in his prime and couldn’t be expected to admit inferiority.
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