Stephen Jackson is a former NBA player, NBA champion, and current podcast host, known for his impactful career on and off the court. After earning All-American honors at Oak Hill Academy in 1996 and leading the 1996 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game in scoring, Stephen Jackson was drafted 42nd overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1997 NBA draft. His professional career commenced with stints in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the La Crosse Bobcats (19971998) and internationally with the Sydney Kings in Australia (1998), followed by teams in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic (1999, 2000), where he averaged an impressive 22.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3 steals per game in Venezuela in 1999. Jackson made his NBA debut in the 200001 season with the New Jersey Nets, averaging 8.2 points per game, before joining the San Antonio Spurs and becoming a key player in their 2003 NBA Championship win, contributing 12.8 points per game during the playoffs.
Currently, Stephen Jackson co-hosts the widely recognized digital video podcast, ‘All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson,’ extending his influence and insights into the sports media landscape.