NBA Veteran Stephen Jackson Speaks Out on Money-Driven Players

NBA veteran Stephen Jackson has had a storied career over the 14 seasons he has spent with the association, including being crowned champion with the San Antonio Spurs back in 2003. However, Jackson has gone through a rough patch recently, most notably only lasting 9 games with the Los Angeles Clippers back in 2013-2014, and is now making a stir once more by calling out players who choose money over winning.

"That's the sad part of the NBA right now, that there are some players that are making a lot of money but they don't really care about winning games and bringing the championship or a winning season to the organization, and that's what the fans are complaining about," he says in a recent interview with Hoops Hype. "That's why a lot of fans want me back in the game. Because they know I appreciate the game, I'm not just there to get a paycheck."

Jackson brings up a few valid points in his statement, but some fans are not buying it considering that he spent his 14 seasons with 8 different teams. And if you take into consideration that he left the then-champions Spurs for a then much lesser team in the Atlanta Hawks, then Jackson looks a whole lot more hypocritical saying such things. Yahoo Sports was quick to point out that Jackson was a key member in the San Antonio side of 2002-2003, but left to become a more noticeable scoring threat in a weaker team.

Stephen Jackson did not name any particular player in his statement, but recent movers such as Bismack Biyombo, Harrison Barnes, and Kevin Durant come to mind. Biyombo only left after the Raptors notified him that they were not willing to spend $30 million on their two centers. Meanwhile, Barnes left a Warriors side that has become too stacked with the acquisition of Kevin Durant who joined to have a better shot at an NBA championship.