Captain Jack, Not a Fan of Kobe

For an above-average NBA swingman, Stephen Jackson’s had a rather colorful NBA career.

Think about it: He won a championship with San Antonio. From there, he fulfilled his destiny and played at least one season in Atlanta, because that’s just too perfect. Then, for irony’s sake, he went to Indiana, where he went into the stands to defend Ron Artest. Then he went to Golden State, where he and the Warriors pulled off one of the more memorable upsets in playoff history, topping the Dallas Mavericks. And now he’s involved in this current, public kerfuffle with Golden State’s management.

Consistent with his colorful history, you can always count on Jackson for a good quote. Witness, as he talks to the San Francisco Gate about Kobe Bryant:

“He was getting favoritism out there. I’m not saying the refs were cheating. I’m not saying that at all. I think he was getting away with stuff that I couldn’t get away with, and I didn’t think it was fair. So I reacted on it, and if it happens again, I’m going to react the same way.”

“I’m a grown man, so when I go out there and play the game, I play the game. I feel like I’m just as good as him. I might not get the publicity or the notoriety he gets, but I feel like I can play with anybody in the NBA.”

“I might not get the publicity or notori…” Actually, Jack, I think you get every bit the notoriety that Kobe gets, and then some. And damnit, with quotes like that, you earn it. When you play the game, you play the game. Awesome.