Stephen Jackson has been a pretty good NBA player for a pretty long time, which is a pretty good way to end up with a gigantic salary.
Jackson, 35, is making $10.1 million this season which is a lot for a guy averaging 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds for the San Antonio Spurs. According to Forbes Magazine, it makes Jackson one of the 10 most overpaid players in the NBA this season.
So Jackson was asked about this Saturday after practice, and he had a little bit of fun with it.
"I've been underpaid my whole career," he said, smiling. "So you do the math. It's adding up. Who cares? Whether they think that or not, I'm still getting paid almost $10 million this year."
He made a thumbs up gesture to the camera when he said it.
Jackson was then informed that Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki also made the list. He scoffed.
"That don't make no sense," Jackson said. "Dirk, Carmelo, seriously? No way. I can name at least 10 people that's overpaid. One is the worst of all time and I played with him, Jim McIlvaine. He robbed the league with no mask, no types of weapons. He just went and said give me all the money. He played, what, one year in Seattle and New Jersey? Jim McIlvaine should be No. 1. At least I got a championship."
Forbes was only dealing with active NBA players, but Jackson's point -- that productive players like Nowitzki and Anthony shouldn't be on such a list -- is well taken. He was, however, a little off on McIlvaine's contract. The 7-foot-1 Wisconsinite signed a seven-year, $33.6 million deal with Seattle in 1996 and went on to average 2.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in his NBA career.
