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Bench Warmer
After the Golden State Warriors' 99-88 upset victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday, Warriors swingman Stephen Jackson clarified recent remarks made to teammates in recent weeks that suggested his love affair with Oakland and the Warriors was over.
Yes, Jackson and coach Don Nelson had words a couple of weeks ago when Nelson told him his poor play was hurting the team.
Yes, Jackson told teammates that if the Warriors' current spiral were to continue, he wouldn't oppose being sent elsewhere.
But he took issue with anyone interpreting those incidents as his way of demanding a trade. He said he remains indebted to the Warriors for giving him a three-year $28 million extension this fall and naming him a team captain last season, the first such honor in his nine-year career.
As for the comments to his teammates, he said: "I was frustrated. I am frustrated. But I don't want to be one of those guys who just gets his money and then wants out when things go bad. Too many people have done too much for me here to be like that. This is the absolute ideal situation for me."
That includes his relationship with Nelson, who invited him into his car before the team's Dec. 15 shootaround before hosting Orlando and told him he was the team's worst player.
The criticism caught Jackson off guard because he had been suiting up despite a broken toe and a sprained left wrist. Injuries had robbed the team of the rest of its veteran leadership, and Jackson had been playing hurt to help out; to hear his sacrifice was unappreciated caused him to react.
He finally gave his left wrist four games off to heal last week, returning against the Celtics to contribute a game-high 28 points and seven rebounds while holding Paul Pierce to one point in the fourth quarter.
"Coach and I don't agree on everything, but I appreciate what he's done, making me a captain and everything," Jackson said. "The responsibility I've been given here is what I've always wanted."
Yes, Jackson and coach Don Nelson had words a couple of weeks ago when Nelson told him his poor play was hurting the team.
Yes, Jackson told teammates that if the Warriors' current spiral were to continue, he wouldn't oppose being sent elsewhere.
But he took issue with anyone interpreting those incidents as his way of demanding a trade. He said he remains indebted to the Warriors for giving him a three-year $28 million extension this fall and naming him a team captain last season, the first such honor in his nine-year career.
As for the comments to his teammates, he said: "I was frustrated. I am frustrated. But I don't want to be one of those guys who just gets his money and then wants out when things go bad. Too many people have done too much for me here to be like that. This is the absolute ideal situation for me."
That includes his relationship with Nelson, who invited him into his car before the team's Dec. 15 shootaround before hosting Orlando and told him he was the team's worst player.
The criticism caught Jackson off guard because he had been suiting up despite a broken toe and a sprained left wrist. Injuries had robbed the team of the rest of its veteran leadership, and Jackson had been playing hurt to help out; to hear his sacrifice was unappreciated caused him to react.
He finally gave his left wrist four games off to heal last week, returning against the Celtics to contribute a game-high 28 points and seven rebounds while holding Paul Pierce to one point in the fourth quarter.
"Coach and I don't agree on everything, but I appreciate what he's done, making me a captain and everything," Jackson said. "The responsibility I've been given here is what I've always wanted."
