“People That I Expected to Be Here With Me Ain’t Here”: Former NBA Player Stephen Jackson Expresses Disappointment Over Lack of Support

When you are a public figure and stand up against injustice, you expect a few of your peers to be there with you to support your cause. And when that doesn’t happen, disappointment seems inevitable. Stephen Jackson seems to be going through the same situation as he leads the protests against the murder of George Floyd.

Stephen Jackson in the frontline to protest in the BLM movement

One can see former NBA player Stephen Jackson at the helm of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. The recent protests began after Caucasian Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, killed African-American George Floyd. The officer put his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, resulting in death by suffocation.

For Stephen Jackson, the movement is personal in two ways. One, he is part of the African-American community as well. Second, he was good friends with the victim.

On the recent episode of ESPN’s ‘The Undefeated‘ Jackson told Marc Spears the origin of his friendship with Floyd.

“The first thing we both say: ‘Man, who’s your dad? And just from that, from looking alike and from that day forward, we just had a bond. We became tight.”

Jackson revealed that his only purpose is getting justice and trying to be a good leader. He also said that his unexpected visit to Minnesota to support Floyd’s family has now stretched to five days.

Jackson disappointed about not hearing from people he expected to

Jackson received appreciation from many for his work. However, some people whom he expected to be there by his side to support him, were missing. That seemed to bother him the most.

Jackson revealed that he had been holding other races accountable. “Like, you can’t say you love me and not be standing here on the side of me. Them days is over with. You can’t say you love the way I play basketball and make jump shots and win championships and not stand on the side of me and support me when I need you the most.

“It’s a lot of people that I expected to be here with me that ain’t here.”

Talking about the ones he did hear from, Jackson said a lot of the league’s known figures contacted him. From Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James, the NBA commissioner Adam Silver to Golden State Warriors coaches Steve Kerr and Mike Brown, all in support of his efforts.

Summing it all up, Stephen Jackson admitted that he came to Minneapolis a different man. Declaring that he stands with the movement for the long haul, the 2003 NBA championship winner said he is embracing the role of the leader he has now become.