Former Buck Jackson gets pink slip
The San Antonio Spurs announced Friday afternoon they've placed former Bucks forward Stephen Jackson on waivers.
Jackson, 35, played in 55 games for the Spurs this season, averaging 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.5 minutes per game.
The news of Jackson's release was first reported by Yahoo! Sports, which also reported the reason for Jackson being waived was continued disagreements with coach Gregg Popovich and Jackson about his role on the team. According to Yahoo! Sports, Jackson and the Spurs talked about parting ways around the All-Star break but decided to stick it out until "disagreements resurfaced this week."
If that sounds familiar, Jackson pulled a similar act while in Milwaukee. Acquired in a three-team deal on draft night in 2011 with Shaun Livingston, Beno Udrih and the draft rights to Tobias Harris in exchange for Corey Maggette, John Salmons and the draft rights to Jimmer Fredette, Jackson never wanted to be with the Bucks.
He played in 26 games with Milwaukee and started 13, averaging 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.4 minutes per game. He clashed with former Bucks coach Scott Skiles and watched his role diminish. The Bucks eventually traded him to Golden State in the Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut trade. Two days later, the Warriors traded Jackson to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson and a first-round pick.
"I just wanted to be around a positive organization that's used to winning and plays the game the right way," Jackson told the San Antonio Express-News when he returned to Milwaukee this season. "Milwaukee, they're not used to winning. I just wasn't going to go for it at the end of my career."
A brash and polarizing player, Jackson has been best controlled by Popovich in his career, but the Spurs even seem tired of his act. Because he was waived after March 1, Jackson won't be eligible to be on a playoff roster if he's signed by another team.
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