Coach Gregg Popovich, with his military background and straightforward style, decided that young players Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green were higher on San Antonio's totem pole than the 35-year-old who won a title with the Spurs in 2003. Jackson grew frustrated and says he even asked for a trade before the All-Star break in February as his role continued to diminish.
"I asked him to trade me because I wasn't playing as much and it was my contract year," said Jackson, who earned $10 million in the final season of his contract. "I knew I could help some teams. I'm blessed that I've never had a surgery or any serious injury in my career, so I'm still healthy. I look up to guys like Grant Hill and Jason Kidd, who are able to play (until their late 30s). I'm looking forward to doing that.
"But I could see it happening because I wasn't playing. I was dominating in practice, I was working my butt off, and it was just frustrating to me … The good thing about it though, what I've learned from my younger years in the NBA, is that I stayed professional. I wasn't coming to practice screaming, I was working every day, I was a great teammate. But I felt that I was at the position in my career, 13 years, where I could go talk to Pop and we could have a solid conversation."
That conversation in mid-April, Jackson said, marked the end. But because the Spurs waited until after March 1 to waive him, league rules prohibited him from joining a playoff roster. That, Jackson said, was his only regret.
"When the decision was made, it wasn't no disrespect or respect lost for anyone," Jackson said. "Pop knows I'm 35 years old and I've been in the league a long time, and he respected my decision and I respected his. I would rather be away from those guys and not be considered a bad teammate — because nobody on the team would say that. I would rather wish them the best and me go on with my career because I'm having a great career and I don't want to be in a situation where I'm looked at in a bad light, so I'm glad me and Pop were able to talk it out and resolve it like men."
Green, who entered Game 6 as the favorite to win NBA Finals MVP if the Spurs could win it all, said Jackson's exodus was taken in stride by the Spurs.
"I didn't know what the discussion was; I heard rumors," Green said. "Obviously Jack is a great locker room guy. He's one of my favorites, regardless of the conversation he had with Pop or whatever it was. He thought that he should've been playing more minutes over me or whatever the conversation may be — I don't know what it was. He's one of my guys. He helped me grow as a player, made me become a better defender, tougher, all-around, everything. He helped us. We liked having him around. It was shocking to me, as I'm sure it was to everybody else. You obviously didn't want him to leave, but Pop thought it was best for the team and it seems to be working out."
Stephen Jackson: No hard feelings for San Antonio Spurs
"I asked him to trade me because I wasn't playing as much and it was my contract year," said Jackson, who earned $10 million in the final season of his contract. "I knew I could help some teams. I'm blessed that I've never had a surgery or any serious injury in my career, so I'm still healthy. I look up to guys like Grant Hill and Jason Kidd, who are able to play (until their late 30s). I'm looking forward to doing that.
"But I could see it happening because I wasn't playing. I was dominating in practice, I was working my butt off, and it was just frustrating to me … The good thing about it though, what I've learned from my younger years in the NBA, is that I stayed professional. I wasn't coming to practice screaming, I was working every day, I was a great teammate. But I felt that I was at the position in my career, 13 years, where I could go talk to Pop and we could have a solid conversation."
That conversation in mid-April, Jackson said, marked the end. But because the Spurs waited until after March 1 to waive him, league rules prohibited him from joining a playoff roster. That, Jackson said, was his only regret.
"When the decision was made, it wasn't no disrespect or respect lost for anyone," Jackson said. "Pop knows I'm 35 years old and I've been in the league a long time, and he respected my decision and I respected his. I would rather be away from those guys and not be considered a bad teammate — because nobody on the team would say that. I would rather wish them the best and me go on with my career because I'm having a great career and I don't want to be in a situation where I'm looked at in a bad light, so I'm glad me and Pop were able to talk it out and resolve it like men."
Green, who entered Game 6 as the favorite to win NBA Finals MVP if the Spurs could win it all, said Jackson's exodus was taken in stride by the Spurs.
"I didn't know what the discussion was; I heard rumors," Green said. "Obviously Jack is a great locker room guy. He's one of my favorites, regardless of the conversation he had with Pop or whatever it was. He thought that he should've been playing more minutes over me or whatever the conversation may be — I don't know what it was. He's one of my guys. He helped me grow as a player, made me become a better defender, tougher, all-around, everything. He helped us. We liked having him around. It was shocking to me, as I'm sure it was to everybody else. You obviously didn't want him to leave, but Pop thought it was best for the team and it seems to be working out."
Stephen Jackson: No hard feelings for San Antonio Spurs
