Former NBA player Stephen Jackson says Gregg Popovich is the smartest coach he ever met, but he can also be disrespectful.
In an interview on ESPN’s The Dan LeBatard Show, Jackson told story from 2013 saying Pop was “disrespectful” when he told him to say a “trash” Manu Ginobili was better than him.
“In San Antonio when I was asked to say other players were better than me to help their confidence so they can play better. That was the most disrespectful thing that I’ve ever heard from any coach in my life. But at the same time was dealing with the smartest coach I ever met in my life.”
Jackson also had harsh words for Manu, who earned more playing time than him, when he wasn’t playing good.
“Danny Green and Manu Ginobili. They were playing ahead of me. Ginobili was playing like trash at the time, turning the ball over all over the place.”
“I just felt like he should’ve played me.”
Jackson was eventually waived down the stretch where Pop said it was “a basketball decision and a family decision.”
