Stephen Jackson interview (PART 2)

November 18, 2:01 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Robert Rowell and Stephen Jackson 

STEPHEN JACKSON INTERVIEW CONTINUED ...

M.S: It seems like all that off-the-court stuff made people forget that you were a pretty good player.

STEPHEN JACKSON: I was in Indiana getting 20 a game and still getting booed. It was hard. It was hard.

M.S.: Seems like people forgot you were a role player on a championship team, you were a star on Atlanta …

STEPHEN JACKSON: They didn’t care about any of that. They did me worse than they did guys who failed a drug test, guys who are getting caught with weed in the car.

I wasn’t doing no (expletive) like that. My instances were helping somebody. I got caught with a gun and I had a gun license.

In Detroit, it was on TV but I wasn’t doing anything I wasn’t supposed to do. I was helping a teammate. If you and me are at a bar and somebody swings on you, if I leave I expect you to never talk to me again. I’m supposed to help you fight. That’s the way I was raised. That’s the way I was taught.

M.S.: There has been talk about your relationship with team president Robert Rowell. When you first met him, did you have to earn his respect or did he give you a clean slate.

STEPHEN JACKSON: I had to earn it because I had to show this organization that I was willing to take the time to do it. Once he saw how I did it with no effort, that I wanted to go to these schools and I wanted to talk to kids, he started to see the person I was.

He started to see how hard I played on the court, how much I appreciated the game. A general manager, whoever, when they see a guy who appreciates his job, obviously they’ll come close and try to get a better relationship. Once that happened we talked more and then it skyrocketed.

Everyday, if I’m in the office, I’ll stop by and talk to him. Next thing you know we’re going out to eat, next thing you know he’s calling me after games saying “good game, what do we need to do?” It just got stronger from there.

M.S.: Then, you're probably aware that he’s taking a lot of heat right now ...

STEPHEN JACKSON: What people need to know about Bobby is he eats, sleeps, everyday, all- day, "I want to win." The biggest thing for him is _ he can't play basketball.

So, he’s holding so much in as far as that he wishes he could come out here and make a shot because he wants to win that bad. His passion for the game is something … he has more passion for the game than some guys who play in this league.

And that’s sad to say considering that some guys play the game and some guys are office guys. But his passion for the game is what all general managers should be like.

It  reminds me of going back to San Antonio with R.C. Buford. He was the GM and he was in that locker room, at every practice and even guys who didn’t play, he sat down and made sure they knew they were important to the team.

That’s the same kind of vibe I get from Bobby. And that’s why I think San Antonio has been so successful … with the general manager and president of the team communicating with the team and making them feel like family.

M.S.:  Do you feel like you have more responsibility now that  you have a contract extension?

STEPHEN JACKSON:  I look at it as a blessing. At the same time, I’m going to play like I always play. I always give 110 percent. Before the contract was done, before it was even talked about.

Now that it’s over with, I’ve got to go out and help this team put more wins together. My biggest thing is now that it’s done and now that I’m going to be here I’ve got to go out and lay more concrete … more concrete than what I’ve laid since I’ve been here.

Now it’s time to take it to another level. … Gotta lay more concrete and build more of a foundation.

STEPHEN JACKSON INTERVIEW: PART ONE