?Everybody Was Going to Laugh?: Unaware of Traditions and Style, Former NBA Champion Reveals One Person Who Saved His Life

The NBA world is rather different from regular society. Basketball stars are, after all, some of the highest-paid individuals in the world. One can imagine that the lifestyle of professional hoopers would be totally different. A former NBA champion elaborated on his transition. He was taken aback after entering the league due to a massive change in lifestyle. Apparently, a certain teammate helped him out.

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. The man in question featured for the side which won the league in 2002-03. Since his retirement, he has also featured as a basketball analyst in the television world.

Former NBA Champion reveals the person who changed his life

Stephen Jackson was the 43rd pick in the 1997 NBA draft. Despite being a late pick in the league he still went to win to win the biggest prize in the basketball world. He revealed how Steve Smith from San Antonio helped him out during his initial days in the league.

In an interview given to Funky Friday, Stephen Jackson said, “Day I get there $20,000 cash. About $10,000 on me, shopping. Bought me an Escalade. Brand new Escalade. You know what I’m saying. Main reason he bought me clothes was because I was from Texas and my clothes is too starched. He told me everybody was going to laugh on me on the East Coast.”?

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The 2003 NBA champion continued, “So he didn’t want me walking around and put me in some Timbs, some baggy jeans, but everything else was out of love. He took care of me.”

Jackson made it clear that Steven Smith left no stone unturned to make him feel at home. Smith was not a fan of Jackson’s style and hence bought him a bunch of fresh clothing.

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Stephen Jackson like many is in awe of Kobe Bryant’s competitiveness. A few months back he touched on the topic of what made Kobe great.

Stephen Jackson on Kobe Bryant

Stephen Jackson was himself quite an exceptional player and was leading in steals with 1.56 per game during San Antonio’s league victory. He had some heavy words of praise for the late legend Kobe Bryant.

Jackson said, “He was thinking about being the greatest basketball player of all time as a teenager and that was his only conversation.”

He made it clear that Kobe always wanted to enter the coveted group of basketball elites and wanted to be better than the rest.

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