INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- About an hour before the Warriors were scheduled to tip-off their nationally televised, outdoor contest against the Phoenix Suns, the team released a statement saying that they have suspended Stephen Jackson for "conduct detrimental to the team," for an incident which took place during Friday night's game against the Lakers.The suspension is for the next two games, beginning with tonight's against Phoenix. Head coach Don Nelson isn't commenting on the particulars, but he did say that it's the first time in his career that he's ever suspended a player.
"I'm not going to make any comments on it," Nelson said. "I'll refer to the statement that's already been given. I will say that in my 30, whatever it is I've been coaching, my 30-some-odd years, I've never suspended a player before. Maybe I should have a couple of times, but I never have.
"I try to stay away from that because it can cost a player a lot of money, and I hate to take big money from guys -- it's fun to take five or 10 or 100 -- but I try to stay away from suspensions as much as I can."
It's unclear specifically what Jackson did to get suspended, but here's what was visible in Friday night's game against the Lakers.
Jackson was frustrated with Kobe Bryant, after the two had been involved in some unusually physical play for what was just the second game of the preseason. After Jackson was called for a foul, he got in Bryant's face and let him know he wasn't happy with something that he had done. Shortly thereafter, Jackson picked up a technical foul, followed by three more, which gave him five personals in under eight minutes of play.
While this was happening, Nelson seemed content to let Jackson play through it, but when there was a timeout and Jackson headed to the bench, he and Nelson had words, and Jackson headed to the locker room for the rest of the game.
Whether this was an isolated incident remains to be seen, but it's of course more than possible that Jackson is doing his best to further his chances of getting traded, as he mentioned not-so-subtly back in August.
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Phoenix Suns' Louis Amundson, right, shoots as Golden State Warriors' Andris Biedrins defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)
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Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) and teammate Shaun Pruitt (55) grab the rebound away from Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)
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Golden State Warriors' Anthony Morrow, left, pushes off Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)
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Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, right, drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)
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Spectators watch the Golden State Warriors play the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)
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Milwaukee Bucks guard Charlie Bell and center Andrew Bogut joke around in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick, top, gets caught up with Chicago Bulls defends while going after a rebound in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, right, shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) shoot over the defense of Milwaukee Bucks center Kurt Thomas (40) and guard Luke Ridnour (13) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12) tries to defend Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Byars (7) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-10-2009 @ 10:18PM
fishinsumbeach said...
Watch out Nellie, this guy is packing.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 7:30AM
Hugh said...
Does anyone still care about the NBA?
10-10-2009 @ 10:50PM
mstski said...
dump him..stephen "CANCER" jackson.. cut our losses now..
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 11:31PM
Mr.G said...
Good luck trying to dump him,he still has 4 years on his contract @ 9mil. per and he's already 31 yrs old.They are actively trying to trade him,but I don't know who is going to take that on.The Cavs already turned them down for Zydrunas' expiring contract,so it's pretty obvious they couldn't get much of anything for him.
Reply
10-10-2009 @ 11:41PM
maddog said...
This guy is an NBA head case. If not for basketball he w
ould be working at what he is most qualified for, flipping burgers
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 1:49AM
Giles said...
There are over a half dozen top 30 or 36 markets, growing at double figures. If teams let 6th, 8th, and 10th men go in an expansion draft, I bet a lot of guys would be welcome on expansion teams who aren`t welcome now. Cap`n Jack WAS welcome in Oakland, but seems not to want to be. And obviously, why give up an expiring contract for a guy you`d still have to pay 9 mil when he is 35? If Ilgauskas got a three year extension guaranteed by the Warriors as part of their acquiring him, taking him to 39, it would be more like and equal commitment, which is a way of further understnading why Cap`n Jack isn`t marketable to teams that are already good without him. The only team he mentioned which has an opening for him is the Knicks, they desperately need a wing guard or two, and for D`Antonni still ball, a wing forward or two. The playoff teams already have good guys. But the Knicks need to cut salary, not commit big to yet another has been.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 1:53AM
syosset57 said...
It's basketball so who cares?
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 7:33AM
Daddy said...
you must care .... you are here
10-11-2009 @ 11:51AM
randy said...
Good point, I certainly don't!
10-11-2009 @ 7:29AM
wlh1923 said...
Hmmm. That was an informative article
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 8:02AM
Gib said...
Now there's a surprise! Stephen "The Thug" Jackson strikes again. I'm amazed how pro sports teams keep giving these losers another chance to ruin their team. The only reason he isn't in prison is that he can make more money playing professsional basketball than he can make as a criminal.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 8:05AM
Gib said...
My All Thug Team:
Stephen Jackson
Ron Artest
Stephen Jackson
Ron Artest
Stephen Jackson
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 9:43AM
mrpoet57 said...
Indiana Pacers found that out several years back.
But, the other teams in the NBA didn't seem to mind, and took the dead weight on.
They are the ones to blame in the end, for these two players should have been thrown out of the NBA years ago.
10-11-2009 @ 11:55AM
rptuckhom said...
You forgot Allen Iverson
10-11-2009 @ 8:53AM
dramsey233 said...
You can take the guy out of the ghetto, but he is still just a thug. He'll end up getting his someday.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 9:26AM
pote207 said...
It is TIME for this THUG to GO. Ship his BUTT out of the NBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 9:36AM
howard said...
A true warrior rather than a submissive fool.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 11:58AM
rptuckhom said...
Hey Howard, if you were smart.............well, never mind!
10-11-2009 @ 9:46AM
bailjump14 said...
Hey he had a bad night give him a break Don Nelson did.
Reply
10-11-2009 @ 10:08AM
ewegolf said...
The NBA's current version of Latrell Sprewell.
Reply