Stephen Jackson is retiring from the NBA. Jackson last played a short stint with the Clippers in 2013-14, but had not officially announced his retirement until now.
Jackson was a controversial figure around the league. Some loved him for his honesty and clutch performances, while others couldn't get past his involvement in the Malice in the Palace or his other off-court issues. He had rocky exits from almost every franchise he played for in the NBA, but was universally praised as a great teammate by his peers, even as he feuded with coaches and management.
Captain Jack was a unique personality who will be remembered for years to come by both his fans and his detractors. Here are eight reasons we'll miss him.
1. 2003: The legend is born
Jackson was a second-round pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, but he didn't play in the NBA until 2000 and wasn't a starter until the 2002-03 season with the Spurs. In his first year as a key cog for a contender, Jack delivered when he was most needed, igniting a 42-15 run for the Spurs to make up a 15-point deficit against Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks in Game 6 the 2003 Western Conference Finals.
It was the first of many clutch Jackson performances that propelled the Spurs to the NBA Finals, where he would get his only title. That magical run stuck with him for the rest of his career.
2. "I make love to pressure"
Jackson and the Spurs didn't reach an agreement on a contract extension, so Jackson left to join the Hawks. The following season, the Spurs lost to the Lakers in the second round in part because no one could make big shots. Jackson felt he was the missing piece and expressed it with one of the most memorable lines in league history.
"That's what I live for," he told ESPN's Rick Bucher. "I make love to pressure."
3. He admitted he enjoyed punching a fan
Jackson landed in Indiana the next year, where he was supposed to be the missing piece on a team that had Reggie Miller, Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal.
Those hopes were dashed thanks to the Malice at the Palace. The brawl started on the court, but Pacers and Pistons players ended up in the stands. Jackson was one of the instigators, running into the crowd to protect Artest and eventually punching a fan. He was suspended for 30 games.
Many years later, Jackson admitted he regretted his actions.
But while Jackson did say that going into the stands was the wrong thing to do, he later said that punching that fun was kind of fun.
"Lemme say this," he told Dan Le Batard and Bomani Jones. "All those racial slurs I done heard, all those things about my mom, my basketball game and my kids and all this, it felt good to punch a fan one time. I'm not gonna lie."
4. "We Believe"
Jackson was traded from the Pacers to the Warriors in the middle of the 2006-07 season and quickly emerged as the heartbeat of one of the most memorable underdogs in NBA history. The small-ball Warriors, led by Baron Davis, Jason Richardson and Jackson, made the playoffs as a No. 8 seed against the league-leading Mavericks, who won 67 games and had the league's MVP in Dirk Nowitzki. Yet the Warriors surprisingly pulled off the upset, dominating Dallas in the six-game series. Jackson made his mark with 33 points and tough defense on Nowitzki in the Game 6 clincher.
Few teams captured the attention of the NBA world like those Warriors did, and Jackson was a huge factor in their success.
5. Every NBA rapper is 'whack'
Jackson considers himself the best rapper in the NBA and is not afraid to make that known. In an interview with a New York morning radio show, Jackson said every other NBA player was a "whack" rapper. That includes Kevin Durant and Iman Shumpert, who were both on Jackson's mixtape.
Asked about former NBA rappers, StackJack5 didn't back down. Allen Iverson? "I eat his lunch." Shaq? "Not even close. He has no swag." Ron Artest? "I put my career on the line for him, but I can't vouch for his music."
He also said he writes his own rhymes, which somehow feels relevant right now.
6. 'Serg Abaka'
Serge Ibaka has been angering small forwards for years, but it got personal once he went after Artest in Dec. of 2012.
Jackson quickly deleted the tweet, but the legend was born.
7. One last performance to turn back the clock
Jackson clashed with the Warriors, Bobcats and Bucks before finally returning to San Antonio at the trade deadline in 2012. He had a quiet run until Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, when he hit six three-pointers to keep the Spurs alive. It brought back memories of that 2003 barrage, but it wasn't enough. The Thunder ended up winning the game and the series.
It would be the last time Jackson made love to pressure. He feuded with Gregg Popovich the next year and was waived before the playoffs started. He played nine games with the Clippers, but his career was essentially over with that move.
8. Your fantasy team sucks
@TeeeCookie fuk yo team clown
— IG: stak5ots (@DaTrillStak5) February 8, 2012
Still the best. We'll miss you, Cap'n Jack.