NBA Fines Stephen Jackson Over Tweet
San Antonio’s Stephen Jackson may be regretting the hostile message he tweeted over the weekend to Oklahoma Thunder’s player Serge Ibaka, reports ESPN.
“Somebody tel serg Abaka. He aint bout dis life. Next time he run up on me im goin in his mouth. That’s a promise. He doin 2 much,” he tweeted.
The NBA slapped Jackson with a hefty $25,000 fine over what it considered an inappropriate threat.
Jackson sent his tweet to Ibaka concerning a dust-up that Ibaka and Meta World Peace had during a game which resulted in both receiving technical fouls.
Jackson felt he should defend his friend Peace, whom he has known since both played for the Indiana Pacers.
The management of the San Antonio Spurs condemmed the veiled threat that Jackson tweeted to Ibaka, insisting that his actions fell below the standards upheld for all Spurs players.
Jackson himself removed the offending tweet and then sent a message apologizing for what he called childish behavior that was also unprofessional.
“I apologize to Serge Ibaka, the NBA, and to all my fans for the comments I made,” Jackson tweeted. “It was unprofessional and childish. I’m not a thug just a man who speaks his mind. It was not appropriate. I do apologize. Only a man can admit when he’s wrong.”
“The recent public comments made by Stephen Jackson are absolutely unacceptable, cannot be tolerated and do not reflect the standards held by the San Antonio Spurs,” Spurs general manager RC Buford said Sunday night in an emailed statement, The Associated Press reported.
This isn’t the first time Jackson’s temper has gotten him into trouble. He received a suspension as a Pacer for hostility while playing against Detroit.
