Stephen Jackson: Winning Wasn't a Priority for Golden State

MILWAUKEE -- Four months after Stephen Jackson arrived in Golden State in January 2007, the Warriors won their first playoff series in 16 years. They went 48-34 the following season, their best record in 14 years.

Jackson would like to take plenty of credit for it.

"The Warriors were (garbage) when I got there, so look what happened,'' Jackson said in an interview Friday with FanHouse. "So I love challenges.''

That's why the 10th-year swingman is ecstatic about his trade last Monday from the Warriors to Charlotte. Even though the Bobcats (3-8 entering Friday) never have made the playoffs since entering the NBA as an expansion team in 2004, Jackson believes it's "a great opportunity for me to be part of something great.''

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Jackson no longer believed that was a possibility in Golden State. The Warriors, devastated by injuries, went 29-53 last season and they were off to a 3-6 start (they entered Friday 3-8) when Jackson got his wish and was dealt.

"I wanted to win and I didn't feel like winning was a priority (in Golden State),'' Jackson said. "I didn't feel like winning was the main goal there, and I didn't want to be a part of a situation where winning is not the main focus. I want to be somewhere where they want to win, where they want to compete. So that's why I wanted out.''

"I wanted to win and I didn't feel like winning was a priority (in Golden State). ... So that's why I wanted out."
- Stephen Jackson Jackson didn't get into a lot of specifics about why he believed the Warriors weren't putting a premium on winning. He did say not spending to acquire players was one concern.

"As a whole from the top of the organization to the bottom of the team, (wanting to win) wasn't the total attitude, and you can see it by being there,'' Jackson said. "(Player acquisitions had) something to do with it, but it's a number of things. I'll be going on all day saying about things that I wasn't happy with.''

Jackson had a bus to catch after Charlotte's morning shootaround in Milwaukee before Friday's game against the Bucks. So he didn't have time to talk all day.

But he did say plenty.

Jackson said he had no regrets about publicly stating in August that he wanted to be traded. The NBA fined him $25,000 for his comments.

"I've been speaking my mind my whole career, and that ain't going to stop,'' he said.

Jackson said his relationship with Warriors coach Don Nelson didn't deteriorate until Nelson suspended him for two games during the preseason, costing him $139,090 in salary. The suspension came after Jackson had a run-in with Nelson during an Oct. 9 preseason game against the Lakers, and the following week Jackson gave up being captain of the Warriors.

"I didn't have a problem with Nellie until he fined me in the preseason,'' Jackson said. "I was supposed to be the captain and he fined me in the preseason. That's when our relationship went sour. But I still have respect for him. I have nothing bad to say about him. But the fine in the preseason I felt was unnecessary.''

Jackson said he was upset with Nelson for not defending him against the officials when he picked up five fouls and a technical in the first nine minutes against the Lakers. He didn't return to the game after his outburst.

"I told him how I felt about leaving me in the game in the preseason and getting five fouls in the first quarter and not standing up for me with the referees,'' Jackson said. "I spoke my mind, and he didn't like what I had to say.''

Now, though, Jackson has become Larry Brown's problem. Well, check that. The Bobcats coach doesn't believe Jackson will be pose much difficulty.

"You asking me about problems?'' said Brown, whose Bobcats acquired Jackson and guard Acie Law for guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic. "No. I've known him." As Brown went on to explain, Jackson tried out for the 76ers when Brown was the coach in 2000, and Jackson also played for Brown's close friend Gregg Popovich from 2001-03. "He's like family. I haven't heard any teammates have a problem with (Jackson).

"It's like Rasheed (Wallace, a controversial player who helped Brown win a title with Detroit in 2004). You never heard teammates have a problem with Rasheed. You never heard coaches have a problem with him. He wants to win. It's important to me. ... Obviously, a kid like (Jackson) is not going to be on the trading block unless things are working out. Again, you hope that the trade works out for everybody.''

Problems haven't been new for Jackson.

While Jackson was with Indiana In 2006, there was an altercation outside an Indianapolis strip club, when he was punched and hit by a car but not hurt seriously. Jackson then fired a gun into the air. That led to a seven-game NBA suspension to start the 2007-08 season.

It was hardly the first time Jackson had been suspended. He got a 30-game NBA suspension from the Pacers after he went into the stands during the infamous Nov. 19, 2004 brawl at Detroit. Jackson eventually pleaded no-contest to a misdemeanor assault charge, getting one year's probation plus community service.

Thursday marked the five-year anniversary of the brawl. Jackson was asked how he looks back on it now.

"I didn't even know you all remember that,'' he said. "I didn't know the brawl had an anniversary. I don't look back on it. It happened. I got fined for it. I left it at that. The only thing I remember from the brawl is getting fined. I don't remember how it happened. I don't even think about it until you bring it up.''

Now, what Jackson wants to think about is helping the Bobcats break a six-game losing streak. He entered Friday averaging 19.5 points and 45.0 minutes in two Charlotte games.

"It's working out well,'' Charlotte guard Raymond Felton said of Jackson's acquisition. "He's just trying to get used to the offense. We all know what he brings to the game. He's a hard worker.''

Brown said the Bobcats made the deal because they needed more scoring. Considering Jackson, 31, has three more seasons on his contract after this one for about $28 million, it's a move that was made for the long haul.

That's fine with Jackson, whose career scoring average is 15.5.

"Championship experience, leadership on both ends of the court, and a guy that wants to win and has a positive attitude,'' Jackson said when asked what he brings to the Bobcats. "(It's) a great situation for me. ... It's another chance for me to help another team get back into the playoffs and get back to that winning attitude.''

Jackson was on San Antonio's 2003 NBA title team. But he didn't say anything about taking credit for that. The Spurs were pretty good when he got there.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.